Nitrosyl azide

Nitrosyl azide

Identifiers
CAS Number	62316-46-5
3D model ( JSmol )	Interactive image
ChemSpider	13917998
PubChem CID	18974641
InChI InChI=1S/N4O/c1-2-3-4-5 Y Key: LHKVDVFVJMYULK-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
SMILES [N-]=[N+]=NN=O
Properties
Chemical formula	N3NO
Molar mass	72.027 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Nitrosyl azide is a highly labile nitrogen oxide with chemical formula N₃NO.

Synthesis

Nitrosyl azide can be synthesized via the following reaction of sodium azide and nitrosyl chloride at low temperatures:

Properties

Below −50 °C, nitrosyl azide exists as a pale yellow solid. Above this temperature, it decomposes into nitrous oxide N₂O and molecular nitrogen N₂:^[1]

Characterization of the compound with IR and Raman spectroscopy show absorption bands that agree well with calculated values for a trans-structure.^[1][2] Quantum chemical calculations show a cis-form higher in energy by 4.2 kJ/mol and an aromatic ring form that is more stable by 205 kJ/mol. However, the cyclization to the ring form would have to surpass the 205 kJ/mol activation energy barrier require to bend the azide group, which might explain why nitrosyl azide is stable enough to be isolated at low temperature.^[1]

References