Oxidative Dimerization of Aromatic Amines using tBuOI: Entry to Unsymmetric Aromatic Azo Compounds

It's all the hype: An oxidative dimerization reaction of aromatic amines utilizing tert-butyl hypoiodite (tBuOI) under mild reaction conditions leads to aromatic azo compounds (see scheme). The method allows access to unsymmetric aromatic azo compounds, which are difficult to prepare by conventional synthetic methods, in a selective manner.