Electrochemical N‐Centered Radical‐Triggered Intramolecular N‐N Coupling for the Cyclization of o‐Aminyl Azobenzenes

An electrochemical radical cyclization of o ‐aminyl azobenzenes via N ‐centered radical generation has been developed for the synthesis of benzotriazoles. The cyclization of o ‐aminyl azobenzenes bearing a sulfonyl protection on amine readily proceeds in the absence of any external transition metal catalyst or chemical oxidant, and exhibits good tolerance towards functional groups.