The Chemistry of the Halogen Azides

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the chemistry of the halogen azides. Fluorine azide is best prepared from dry hydrazoic acid and fluorine in the gas phase. Decomposition reactions of the fluorine azide are avoided when the reactants are diluted with N 2 . Because in this reaction chlorine azide is produced in high concentrations locally, explosions can occur. For preparative purposes, the most convenient method is the reaction of chlorine gas, diluted with nitrogen, with an aqueous solution of sodium azide. Solutions of bromine azide in hexane, carbon tetrachloride, and other inert solvents are obtained from silver azide and bromine when the suspension contains some dry sodium sulfate, to avoid decomposition of the BrN 3 by traces of water. For preparative purposes, solutions of bromine azide in dichloromethane or pentane can be prepared by addition of bromine to an agitated two-phase system held at 0°C, the aqueous phase of which consists of sodium azide and 30% HC1.