Richter cyclization and co-cyclization reactions of triazene-masked diazonium ions

The conventional Richter cyclization involves diazotization of 2-alkynylanilines with HX (aq) (X = Br or Cl) and NaNO₂, followed by spontaneous ring closure to give a mixture of 4-halocinnoline and 4-cinnolinone products. The different products result from competing attack of X⁻ and H₂O, respectively, upon an intermediate 2-alkynylphenyl diazonium ion during the cyclization step. In order to improve the chemoselectivity of this reaction, we have utilized triazenes as masked diazonium ions. These can be unmasked using MeSO₃H in anhydrous solvents and the resultant 2-alkynylphenyl diazonium ion cyclized chemoselectively by the incorporation of a specifically added nucleophile. This process has been extended to tethered nucleophiles, leading to a Richter induced co-cyclization process to give ring-fused cinnolines.