Photochemical Schiemann reaction in ionic liquids

Photochemical Schiemann reactions of imidazole derivatives 1 and 4 were carried out in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid [bmim][BF4] as solvent. The effects of temperature, co-solvent and wavelength on the rate of the reaction and product yield were examined. The use of ionic liquid increases the yield of the photochemical fluorodediazoniation reaction of 2 at 0 °C. Careful temperature control is necessary to minimize the photodecomposition of the ionic liquid in order to increase the yield of product.