Oxygen insertion into the metal–carbon bond of cyclopalladated 2-(alkylsulphinyl)azobenzenes by peracids. High yield regiospecific aromatic hydroxylation

The title reaction occurs by an associative mechanism involving heterolytic O–O cleavage; the sequence azobenzene →(1)→(2)→ azophenol leading to overall regiospecific aromatic hydroxylation has been realised.