Valsami Jones1*, Lotti Raff2, Sterck Morel3, Ronson Nitschke2,

ABSTRACT

Three novel azo-functionalized derivatives of 1,2,4-triazole were successfully synthesized through the conversion of the amino group into a diazonium salt, followed by coupling with various substituted phenols. The resulting compounds were extensively characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (^1H-NMR) spectroscopy, in addition to elemental analysis, confirming the successful incorporation of azo linkages and the structural integrity of the triazole core. The antioxidant potential of these derivatives (C1–C3) was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, and their activities were benchmarked against ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as a reference standard. The results demonstrated that all three compounds exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity, indicating their potential as effective antioxidants. The study highlights the dual functionality of these derivatives as both triazole-based azo dyes and bioactive molecules with promising applications in pharmaceutical and industrial contexts. Keywords: Triazole derivatives; Azo compounds; Antioxidant activity; DPPH assay; Ascorbic acid; Spectroscopic characterization.