Azides. Part V. A kinetic study of the formation of N-(p-toluenesulphonyl)-1H-azepine by thermolysis of p-toluenesulphonylazide in benzene under nitrogen pressure

The course of thermolysis of p-toluenesulphonylazide (A) in benzene at 160 °C and 40.1 atm of nitrogen pressure was followed by analysis of the reactants and products in the reaction mixture by hplc. The rate measurements indicate that the reaction follows first-order kinetics with respect to the formation of N-(p-toluenesulphonyl)-1H-azepine (B) and p-toluencsulphonamide (D). The concentration–time profile is consistent with the formation of p-toluenesulphonylanilide (C) from the azepine (B). The rate constants indicate that the azepine (B) decomposes to the anilide (C) at the same rate at which it is formed.