Novel N-transfer reagent for converting α-amino acid derivatives to α-diazo compounds

A novel universal N-transfer reagent for direct and effective transformation of α-amino ketones, acetamides, and esters to the corresponding α-diazo products under mild basic conditions has been developed. This one-step synthetic approach not only allows for generation of α-substituted-α-diazo carbonyl compounds from α-amino acid derivatives but also permits preparation of α-diazo dipeptides from N-terminal dipeptides (32 examples, up to 91%).

The crystal structure of (E)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(2-nitrophenyl)triaz-1-ene C8H8N2O4

C8H8N2O4, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15) , a = 27.748(5) Å, b = 5.6488(10) Å, c = 16.437(3) Å, β = 93.393(3)°, V = 2571.87 Å3, Z = 8, R gt(F) = 0.0330, wR ref(F 2) = 0.0963, T = 296(2) K.