The major product of diazotisation of propan - 1 – amine, is propan - 2 – ol, accompanied by a small amount of propan - 1 – ol, together with propene.
The reaction mechanism starts by thermal liberation of gaseous nitrogen and formation of the corresponding carbocation:
CH3CH2CH2-N(+)ΞΝ, Cl(-) → CH3CH2CH2(+) + N2↑ + Cl(-)
Try to explain the formation of all above products from propane-1-carbocation and why propan - 2 – ol is the major product.
Reference: Peter Sykes, A Guidebook to Mechanism in Organic Chemistry, 2nd Edition, Longmans LTD, London, (1965), p. 85