What are diazonium salts?

Diazonium salts are ionic compounds with the general formula ArN₂⁺X⁻, where Ar is an aryl group and X⁻ is an anion like Cl⁻, Br⁻, NO₃⁻, etc. They contain a diazonium group (–N⁺≡N) and are commonly used in organic synthesis.

How are diazonium salts prepared?

They are typically prepared by diazotization of primary aromatic amines using sodium nitrite (NaNO₂) and a mineral acid (like HCl) at temperatures below 5°C. Reaction: ArNH₂ + NaNO₂ + 2HCl → ArN₂⁺Cl⁻ + 2H₂O + NaCl

Can phenols be made from diazonium salts?

Yes. Phenols are prepared by hydrolyzing diazonium salts with water and acid. This is one of the few ways to directly introduce –OH into an aromatic ring.

What are azo dyes, and how are they formed?

Azo dyes are colored compounds formed by coupling diazonium salts with electron-rich aromatic compounds like phenols or anilines. They contain the –N=N– azo linkage and are widely used in textiles and inks.

Diazonium Salts

1.0Introduction

Diazonium salts are important intermediates in organic synthesis, especially for preparing dyes, phenols, aryl halides, and other aromatic compounds.

Diazonium salts are ionic compounds.
Their general formula is:
Ar–N₂⁺ X⁻

Where:

Ar = Aryl group (e.g., phenyl, C₆H₅)
X⁻ = Anion (e.g., NO₃⁻, HSO₄⁻, F⁻, Cl⁻, Br⁻)

The word ‘diazo’ comes from the presence of two nitrogen atoms (N≡N) connected together.

The group –N⁺≡N is called the diazonium group.

To name a diazonium salt:

Write the name of the aromatic compound (like benzene).
Add the suffix “diazonium”.
Mention the anion present (like chloride, nitrate, etc.).

Example: C₆H₅N₂⁺Cl⁻ = Benzene diazonium chloride

2.0Physical Properties of Diazonium Salts

Most arenediazonium salts are colourless, crystalline solids and are highly soluble in water.
In their dry state, many diazonium salts—especially nitrates—are highly explosive and dangerous.
For safety reasons, they are usually not isolated but are prepared and used immediately in chemical reactions.
Some diazonium salts, such as diazonium fluoroborates, are poorly soluble in water but are stable enough to be isolated, dried, and stored.
Certain diazonium salts can react with metallic salts (e.g., zinc chloride (ZnCl₂)) to form insoluble coordination complexes, such as ArN₂⁺·ZnCl₄²⁻.

3.0Chemical Reactions

Diazonium salts undergo a wide variety of chemical reactions due to the excellent leaving ability of the diazo group (N₂). These reactions are broadly categorized based on whether the diazo group is replaced or retained.

Classification of Reactions

Diazonium salt reactions are mainly classified into:

Type I: Reactions where the diazonium group is replaced by another group.
Type II: Reactions where the diazonium group is retained, like in coupling reactions.

Type I: Replacement Reactions

Sandmeyer Reaction

Definition: Converts aryl diazonium salts into aryl halides using copper(I) salts (e.g., CuCl, CuBr, CuCN).
Mechanism: Radical-nucleophilic aromatic substitution.
History: Discovered by Traugott Sandmeyer in 1884.
General Reaction:

$A r N_{2}^{+} C l^{-} + C u Cl \to A r Cl + N_{2} ↑$

Key Applications:
ArCl via CuCl
ArBr via CuBr
ArCN via CuCN

Schiemann Reaction

Converts diazonium salts to aryl fluorides using HBF₄ (tetrafluoroboric acid).
The ArN₂⁺ BF₄⁻ salt is heated to release N₂ and form ArF.

Reaction:

$A r N_{2}^{+} B F_{4}^{-} Δ A r F + B F_{3} + N_{2} ↑ A r N 2 + BF 4 - Δ A r F + BF 3 + N 2 ↑$

Phenol Formation

Heating diazonium salt with water yields phenols.
Used in pharmaceutical synthesis.
Reaction:

$A r N_{2}^{+} C l^{-} + H_{2} O Δ A r O H + N_{2} ↑ + H Cl A r N 2 + Cl - + H 2 O Δ A r O H + N 2 ↑ + H Cl$

Formation of Aryl Iodides

Reacts with potassium iodide (KI) to produce aryl iodides.
Reaction:

$A r N_{2}^{+} C l^{-} + K I \to A r I + K Cl + N_{2} ↑ A r N 2 + Cl - + K I \to A r I + K Cl + N 2 ↑$

Reduction to Hydrocarbons
Treating diazonium salt with hypophosphorous acid (H₃PO₂) or ethanol removes the diazo group, replacing it with hydrogen.
Reaction:
$A r N_{2}^{+} C l^{-} + H_{3} P O_{2} + H_{2} O \to A rH + H Cl + H_{3} P O_{3} + N_{2} ↑$

Type II: Coupling Reactions

Diazonium Coupling Reaction

Diazonium salts undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution with electron-rich aromatic compounds (like phenol or aniline) to form azo compounds (–N=N–).
These reactions yield brightly colored azo dyes (yellow, orange, red).
General Reaction:
$A r N_{2}^{+} + A r^{'} H \to A r - N = N - A r^{'}$
Application: Used widely in the dye industry to produce azo dyes.

4.0Diazotisation

Mechanism of Diazonium Salt Formation

Diazonium salts are formed by diazotisation of aromatic primary amines using NaNO₂ and HCl at 0–5°C.

Stepwise Reaction:

Generation of nitrosonium ion (NO⁺):

$N a N O_{2} + H Cl \to H N O_{2} + N a Cl H N O_{2} + H Cl \to N O^{+} + H_{2} O + C l^{-}$

Formation of diazonium salt:
$A r N H_{2} + N O^{+} + H^{+} \to A r N_{2}^{+} + H_{2} O$

5.0Key Reactions of Benzene Diazonium Chloride (C₆H₅N₂⁺Cl⁻):

Reagent	Product	Reaction Name
CuCl / CuBr / CuCN	ArCl / ArBr / ArCN	Sandmeyer Reaction
HBF₄ (heat)	ArF	Schiemann Reaction
KI	ArI	—
H₂O (heat)	ArOH	—
H₃PO₂ / ethanol	ArH	Reduction
Phenol / Aniline	Azo compound (dye)	Coupling Reaction

6.0Advantages of Diazonium Salt

Diazonium salts offer a significant advantage in aromatic substitution reactions. Direct halogenation or the introduction of groups like cyanide or nitro onto an aryl ring is often not feasible. However, diazonium salts enable the easy introduction of functional groups such as –F, –Cl, –Br, –I, –CN, –OH, and –NO₂ onto the aromatic ring.

For example, the –OH group cannot be directly introduced into a benzene ring through standard substitution reactions. Yet, it can be conveniently introduced using diazonium salt chemistry. This method allows the synthesis of substituted aromatic compounds that are otherwise difficult or impossible to obtain through direct substitution of benzene or its derivatives. By replacing the diazonium group with various monovalent groups, a wide range of aromatic compounds can be prepared efficiently.

Sandmeyer reaction

Schiemann Reaction

Phenol synthesis

Aryl iodide

Mechanism

Frequently Asked Questions

Join ALLEN!

(Session 2025 - 26)

Name

Mobile Number

Class

Choose class

Goal

Choose your goal

Preferred Programs

Preferred Mode

State

Choose State

I agree to

I authorise ALLEN Career Institute Pvt Ltd to send me regular updates via Phone calls, Whatsapp, SMS, Robocalls (Automated Calls), Emails, or on postal address.