Diazoacetonitrile: Safe and Green Synthesis through Continuous Processing

Diazo compounds, although possessing unique reactivity, have been widely rejected due to their highly hazardous preparation protocols. Diazoacetonitrile (DAN), a relatively stable diazo compound, has been overlooked despite its potential in chemical synthesis. The present study describes a microflow process for the simultaneous preparation of DAN in aqueous solution and its extraction in dichloromethane. The DAN productivity was optimized in terms of solvent, temperature, residence time, and pressure. This experimental work represents a breakthrough in delivering DAN continuously in a stable CH2Cl2 solution, enabling its utilization as a versatile building block for various synthetic processes and contributing to the development of new green synthetic processes.