Nucleophilic substitution in benzo-1,2,3,4-tetrazine 1,3-dioxides

Nucleophilic substitution in nitro- and bromobenzo-1,2,3,4-tetrazine 1,3-dioxides (BTDOs) was studied. In most cases, the bromo and nitro groups are replaced by methylamino, dimethylamino, azido, and methoxy groups without opening of the tetrazine ring. It was illustrated with the reactions of dibromo-BTDOs with sodium methoxide that the reactivity of positions 5 to 8 in their benzene ring as regards nucleophilic substitution changes in the following order: 6 > 8 > 7 > 5. The structures of the BTDOs obtained were confirmed by ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁴N NMR data.