Pyrolysis of benzenediazonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)methide

The pyrolysis of benzenediazonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)methide in the absence of solvents did not give the carbon arylation product, PhCH(SO2CF3)2, but the oxygen phenylation product, PhO(CF3)S(O)CHSO2CF3, in good yield. In contrast, the pyrolysis of the same compound in acetonitrile gave the acetonitrile-inserted compound, PhNH(Me)CC(SO2CF3)2, quantitatively.