KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF THE CURTIUS REARRANGEMENT OF m-NITROBENZOYL AZIDE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS OF SULFURIC ACID

Abstract

The kinetics and mechanism of the Curtius rearrangement of m-nitrobenzoyl azide in aqueous solutions of sulfuric acid of various concentrations has been studied. An increase of the acidity of the reaction solution an increase in the acidity of the reaction solution leads to an acceleration of the rearrangement. The rate-limiting step of the reaction is the rearrangement of the protonated form of m-nitrobenzoyl azide to the corresponding isocyanate