Introduction to Diazonium Salts

Diazonium salts are prepared from aromatic amines and are used immediately because they are stable for only a short time -- their reactive -N2+ group, formally derived by diazotisation of the ring's -NH2, makes them exceptionally versatile intermediates: the -N2+ group can be swapped out for a wide range of other substituents (halogens, -CN, -OH, -H, and more) that are otherwise difficult or impossible to install directly on an aromatic ring, or it can be retai …