The thermal decomposition of phenyl-n-butyldiazirine and of phenylmethyldiazirine in DMSO and in HOAc have been investigated over the temperature range 80–130 °C. The intermediate diazo compounds, 1-phenyl-1-diazopentane and 1-phenyldiazoethane respectively have been detected and isolated. The decomposition of phenyl-n-butyldiazirine and the subsequent decomposition of its product, 1-phenyl-1-diazopentane, are an illustration of consecutive reactions. The kinetic parameters for the isomerization and decomposition reactions have been determined. The isomerization of phenylmethyldiazirine to 1-phenyldiazoethane is first order and probably unimolecular but the kinetics for the subsequent reactions of 1-phenyldiazoethane are complicated by several competing rate processes.
