Abstract
Aryl carbenic anion radicals have been generated from the corresponding alkoxy-aryl diazo compounds by unimolecular decomposition reaction in various electrolyte/solvent systems. The electrochemical reductions of alkoxy-aryl diazo compounds in the electrolyte/solvent system are shown to initially be a one-electron process which affords the corresponding anion radicals. The unimolecular loss of nitrogen is favored at the propagation step and accelerated by the oxygen and carbon atoms of alkoxy group adjacent to the diazo function. The structure of the carbene anion radical in the termination is considered to be a resonance hybrid.