Abstract:
The review describes the modern concepts concerning the electronic fine structure of aliphatic diazo-compounds based on experimental data (from infrared, ultraviolet, and PMR spectroscopy) and also quantum-mechanical calculations by the LCAO-MO method. These concepts explain many chemical properties of diazoalkanes and sometimes make it possible to predict them. Apart from "classical" aliphatic diazo-compounds, the structures and properties of the isomers – linear (N-isocyanamine) and cyclic (diazirines) – are considered. The bibliography comprises 99 references.