Molecular rearrangements of 5-azido substituted 1,2,3-triazoles

5-Azido-4-methoxycarbonyl-1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole ($\text{8a}$) and its phenyl substituted derivatives $\text{8b}$,$\text{c}$ rearrange at 60–80°C to give tetrazolyldiazoacetates $\text{9}$, which have been isolated. When the reactions are allowed to go to completion, products derived from the diazo compounds are obtained; i.e. norcaradienes ($\text{10}$) from benzene solutions and imidazotetrazoles ($\text{12}$) from nitrite solutions. The latter decompose photochemically into diazacyclopentadienonimines ($\text{13}$). A kinetic study of the rearrangement $\text{8}$ → $\text{9}$ has been carried out and the mechanism (Scheme VI) is discussed in comparison with the Dimroth rearrangement.