Synthesis of l-Aryl-3-formyl-3-methyltriazenes, Potential Metabolites of l-Ary1-3,3-dimethyltriazenes

Some para-substituted 1-aryl-3,3-dimethyltriazenes were oxidized with tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of vanadium pentoxide as a catalyst. Under these conditions, the corresponding 1-aryl-3-formyl-3-methyltriazenes, 1-aryl-3-tert-butylperoxymethyl-3-methyltriazenes, and p-nitrobenzenes were obtained. The 1-aryl-3-formyl-3-methyltriazenes might play a role in the metabolic oxidation of the 1-aryl-3,3-dimethyltriazenes, which are active as mutagenic, carcinogenic, and antitumor agents.