Aryldiazonium salts are highly reactive and unstable, making them hazardous to handle and leading to unintended explosions. The risks associated with these compounds have resulted in tragic accidents, such as the incident at Ciba AG in Basel on December 23, 1969, which resulted in the destruction of a building, the loss of three lives, and 31 serious injuries.
The Mülheim team has now managed to make the risky chemistry involving aryldiazonium salts significantly safer with their new method, the Mülheim Protocol. This innovation combines the two synthesis steps, going directly to the desired product without accumulating the diazonium salt, thereby significantly reducing the risk of an explosion.
