Reactions of 1‐Arylbenziodoxolones with Azide Anion: Experimental and Computational Study of Substituent Effects

New substituted 1-arylbenziodoxolones were prepared and their reactivity with azide anion nucleophile was investigated. It was found that independent on the presence of substituents, all reactions of 1-arylbenziodoxolones proceed as nucleophilic substitution of the iodonium leaving group in the electron-deficient benziodoxolone benzene ring. The presence of bulky substituents in the ortho-position of the aryl ring slowers the reaction, while the presence of a moderately electron-withdrawing bromine substituent in the para-position to iodine in the benziodoxolone ring moderately increases the rate of substitution. The presence of a strongly electron-withdrawing nitro group in the para-position to iodine in the benziodoxolone ring dramatically increases the rate of substitution. These observations are in agreement with the electronic requirements for internal nucleophilic substitution in the benziodoxole ring. A quantum-chemical computational study of the possible reaction paths is in agreement with the observed effects of substituents on the reactivity of arylbenziodoxolones in this reaction.