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ortho-Functionalized azobenzenes are much sought after molecular switches, as they may be tuned to absorb in the visible range of light and the (Z)-isomers can have high thermal half-lives. To enable straightforward access to these targets, we have developed a synthetic route via novel ortho-substituted azobenzene-functionalized diaryliodonium salts. Selective transfer of the azobenzene moiety to O-, N-, C- and S-nucleophiles under mild, transition metal-free conditions gives access to an unprecedented range of ortho-substituted azobenzenes. The photoswitching properties of the reagents were investigated and the structure was determined by X-ray crystallography.

Two transition-metal-free methods to access substituted phenols via the arylation of silanols or hydrogen peroxide with diaryliodonium salts are presented. The complementary reactivity of the two nucleophiles allows synthesis of a broad range of phenols without competing aryne formation, as illustrated by the synthesis of the anesthetic Propofol. Furthermore, silyl-protected phenols can easily be obtained, which are suitable for further transformations.

Ortho-functionalized azobenzenes are much sought-after molecular switches. They may be tuned to absorb in the visible range of light and in many cases, the Z-isomers have very high thermal half-lives. However, methods to introduce substituents in ortho-position are still rare. This work presents the synthesis of azobenzenes with an iodine(III) moiety in the ortho-position. This novel class of diaryliodonium salts is demonstrated to efficiently arylate oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and sulfur nucleophiles under metal-free conditions. Selective transfer of the azobenzene moiety to the nucleophile gives access to an unprecedented range of ortho-substituted azobenzenes. In addition, the structure of these versatile reagents has been analyzed by X-ray crystallography and their photo-switching properties were investigated by NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy.