Diethyl azodicarboxylate

Description

Our Halloween 2012 series begins with a molecule that has the acronym DEAD. It stands for diethyl azodicarboxylate, an orange–red liquid that becomes yellow when diluted in a solvent. DEAD is a strong electron acceptor; it oxidizes iodide to molecular iodine, hydrazine to molecular nitrogen, alcohols to aldehydes, and thiols to disulfides. DEAD’s principal use is as a reagent in the Mitsunobu condensation reaction, and it participates in Michael and Diels–Alder reactions. Because it explodes when heated, it cannot be shipped in pure form. Instead, it is transported in solution or adsorbed onto plastic particles.

Description

Diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD) is commonly used in Mitsunobu reactions. It is often used as a 40% solution in toluene. Similar reagents include DIAD, DtBAD, and ADDP.

The Uses of Diethyl azodicarboxylate

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The Uses of Diethyl azodicarboxylate

To a solution of A (400 mg, 1.54 mmol), B (621 mg, 3.09 mmol), and PPh3 (610 mg, 2.32 mmol) in THF (5.5 mL) at RT was added DEAD (404 mg, 2.32 mmol) in THF (0.5 mL). After 90 min, silica gel was added and the mixture was concentrated and purified on a flash column (25% EtOAc/hexane) to provide the product. [545 mg, 80%]