Radical substitution with azide: TMSN3-PhI(OAc)(2) as a substitute of IN3

TMSN3 and PhI(OAc)(2) were found to promote high-yield azide substitution of ethers, aldehydes and benzal acetals. The reaction is fast and occurs at zero to ambient temperature in acetonitrile. However, it is essential for the reaction that TMSN3 is added subsequent to the mixture of PhI(OAc)(2) and the substrate. A primary deuterium kinetic isotope effect was found for the azidonation of benzyl ethers both with TMSN3-PhI(OAc)(2) and with IN3. Also a Hammett free energy relationship study of this reaction showed good correlation with sigma(+) constants giving with p-values of -0.47 for TMSN3-PhI(OAc)(2) and 0.39 for IN3. On this basis a radical mechanism of the reaction was proposed.