Efficient and economic halogenation of aryl amines via arenediazonium tosylate salts

Arenediazonium tosylate salts have been successfully employed as a new and efficient reagent in halogenation reactions. A novel and economic protocol has been developed for the bromination and chlorination of various anilines using arenediazonium tosylate salts. A wide variety of reaction conditions were studied in acetonitrile at either room temperature or 60 °C in the presence or absence of catalyst with good to excellent yields. A surprising result showed the formation of acetanilides as a major product of aniline and methyl-substituted aniline halogenations in high yields.