The Generation of Diazo Compounds in Continuous‐Flow

• Published in: Chemistry : a European journal Vol. 24; no. 42; pp. 10571 - 10583
• Main Authors: Hock, Katharina J., Koenigs, Rene M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 25.07.2018
• Subjects: Chemistry; continuous flow; diazo compounds; Hazards; microreactors; organic synthesis; Reagents; synthetic methods; diazo compounds; continuous flow; micro reactor
• ISSN: 0947-6539; 1521-3765
• DOI: 10.1002/chem.201800136

Toxic, cancerogenic and explosive—these attributes are typically associated with diazo compounds. Nonetheless, diazo compounds are nowadays a highly demanded class of reagents for organic synthesis, yet the concerns with regards to safe and scalable transformations of these compounds are still exceptionally high. Lately, the research area of the continuous‐flow synthesis of diazo compounds attracted significant interest and a whole variety of protocols for their “on‐demand” preparation have been realized to date. This concept article focuses on the recent developments using continuous‐flow technologies to access diazo compounds; thus minimizing risks and hazards when working with this particular class of compounds. In this article we discuss these concepts and highlight different pre‐requisites to access and to perform downstream functionalization reaction. Flow chemistry enables the safe and scalable synthesis of diazo compounds. This Concept article highlights approaches realized thus far in this area and describes downstream applications of diazo compounds, generated in continuous‐flow.