Diazomethane is a yellow, poisonous, potentially explosive compound with the chemical formula CH2N2. It is a valuable synthetic reagent that is used for methylation reactions and in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds. Diazomethane can be prepared through Pechmann's method involving the reaction of methylamine with ethyl chlorofomate or through hydrolysis of an ethereal solution of an N-methyl nitrosamide with aqueous base. It is chemically very reactive and transforms functional groups, making it useful for a variety of synthetic applications.

1. AMITY INSTITUTE OF PHARMACY
SYNTHETIC REAGENTS AND APPLICATIONS
DIAZOMETHANE
Submitted To Presented by
Dr. Neerupma Dhiman Firuj Ahmed
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Master of Pharmacy
1st Year

2. Index:
 1. Introduction
 2. Preparation
 3. Applications
 4. Reference

3. Synthetic Reagents:
Synthetic reagents consist of a broad range of chemicals with many
used in chemical synthesis.
They are the key components used for transforming functional group.
Diazomethane:
Diazomethane is the chemical compound CH2N2 discovered by
German chemist Sir Hans Von pechmann in 1894
Diazomethane is a yellow, poisonous, potentially, explosive compound.
It is a gas at room temperature.

4. IUPAC Name: Diazomethane
Other Name: Azimethylene, Azomethelene, Diazirine
Chemical Formula: CH2N2
Molar Mass: 42.04 gm/mol
Appearance: Yellow Gas
Odour: Musty
Solubility: Soluble in water
It is chemically very reactive and is, therefore, of
great value as synthetic reagent.

5. PREPARATION:
1.Pechmann’s method: By this method diazomethane is prepared from
methylamine by treating it with ethyl chlorofomate to form N-methyl
urethane.
This when treated with nitrous acid in ethereal solution yields N-methyl
N-nitrosourethane.
This on warming with alcoholic potassium hydroxide decompose into
diazomethane which is collect on cool ether.

6. 2.Diazomethane is prepared by hydrolysis of an ethereal solution of an N
methyl nitrosamide with aqueous base:
N-methyl-N-nitroso—p-toulenesulfonamide
N-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine

7. APPLICATIONS:
1.METHYLATION:
It is used as methylating agent for acidic compounds, alcohols, carbonyl
compounds, amines

8. 2. SYNTHESIS OF HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS:
Diazomethane condense with ethylenic and acetylenic bonds to give
heterocyclic compounds
Ethene Diazomethane Cyclopropane

9. REFERENCE:
1. Reaction and reagents by O.P.Agarwal, volume-1,USB
Publication,seventh edition (1995), page no.:840-844
2. Organic Chemistry by Robert Thornton Morrison, Robert Neilson Boyd,
Saibal Kanthi Bhattacharjee, Seventh Edition(2013), Published by Borling
Kinders Ley Pvt Ltd , Page no.: 331-334.
3. Text book of Organic Chemistry by I.L.Finar Volume 1,sixth
edition(1974),page no.392.
4. Textbook of Organic Reactions Reagents and Rearrangements by Sanyal,
published by Bharati Bhawan(2003),fourth edition,page no.:206-206.

10. THANK YOU