An iron-catalyzed nitrene transfer reaction of nitrosobenzenes with N-acyloxyamides for accessing N-acyl azoxy molecules

Abstract

Reported herein is a nitrene transfer reaction of nitrosobenzenes with N-acyloxyamides using FeCl₂·4H₂O as a cheap and commercially available catalyst, affording N-acyl azoxy compounds with high functional-group compatibility. This facile transformation could be carried out smoothly under an air atmosphere at the gram scale and its synthetic utility was demonstrated by efficient reduction and aryl transfer reactions of the product.