Efficient one-pot transformation of aminoarenes to haloarenes using halodimethylisulfonium halides generated in situ

Halodimethylsulfonium halide 1, which is readily formed in situ from hydrohaloic acid and DMSO, is a good nucleophilic halide. This activated nucleophilic halide rapidly converts aryldiazonium salt prepared in situ by the same hydrohaloic acid and nitrite ion to aryl chlorides, bromides, or iodides in good yield. The combined action of nitrite ion and hydrohaloic acid in DMSO is required for the direct transformation of aromatic amines, which results in the production of aryl halides within 1 h. Substituted compounds with electron-donating or -withdrawing groups or sterically hindered aromatic amines are also smoothly transformed to the corresponding aromatic halides. The only observed by-product is the deaminated arene ( usually < 7%). The isolated aryldiazonium salts can also be converted to the corresponding aryl halides using 1. The present method offers a facile, one-step procedure for transforming aminoarenes to haloarenes and lacks the environmental pollutants that usually accompany the Sandmeyer reaction using copper halides.