Nanoparticles of organosilane-based nitrite ionic liquid immobilized on silica for the diazotization of aniline derivatives and subsequent synthesis of azo dyes

Imidazolium based nitrite ionic liquid containing trimethoxysilyl group was prepared from the reaction of N-methylimidazole and (3-chloropropyl) trimethoxysilane. This ionic liquid was immobilized on silica covalently to give nanoparticles with the imidazolium nitrite moiety remaining intact. The diazotization reaction was performed as a model reaction to examine the activity of these nanoparticles as a nitrosonium source. Excellent performance was exhibited in the diazotization reaction of various aniline derivatives in the presence of HCl under mild heterogeneous conditions (room temperature and short reaction time). In-situ coupling of diazonium salts to a range of tertiary anilines, phenols and naphthols afforded the requisite azo dyes in good yield, using standard experimental procedures.

► New nano nitrite ionic liquid immobilized on silica was synthesized. ► An efficient diazotization of anilines using this new ionic liquid is described. ► Azo dyes were prepared via in situ azo-coupling reaction in good yields.