Iron(III) azide
Chemical compound
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iron(III) azide, also called ferric azide, is a chemical compound with the formula Fe(N3)3. It is an explosive, very unstable, hygroscopic dark brown solid. This compound is a reagent in organic chemistry. It forms red solutions in water.[1]
| Names | |
|---|---|
Other names
| |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
|
| ChemSpider | |
PubChem CID |
|
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
|
| |
| |
| Properties | |
| Fe(N3)3 | |
| Molar mass | 181.908 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | Dark brown hygroscopic leaflets[1] |
| Melting point | 200 °C (392 °F; 473 K) in air, 230 °C (446 °F; 503 K) in nitrogen[1] Explodes |
| Soluble | |
| Solubility in methanol | Soluble |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling:[citation needed] | |
 | |
| Danger | |
| Related compounds | |
Other anions |
|
Other cations |
|
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
| |
Preparation
This compound is prepared by the reaction of sodium azide and iron(III) sulfate in methanol:[1]
- 6 NaN3 + Fe2(SO4)3 → 2 Fe(N3)3 + 3 Na2SO4
Iron(III) azide can also be formed by pulse gamma-irradiation of a mixture of iron(II) perchlorate, sodium azide, and hydrogen peroxide.[2] Under these conditions, a neutral N3 radical is formed, which oxidizes the iron(II) to iron(III); the iron(III) then promptly combines with azide ions.
Application in organic chemistry
In organic chemistry, ferric azide is a reagent in the one-pot conversion of alkenes to alkyl azide, such as n-butyl azide. The process begins with a hydroboration: an anti-Markovnikov addition of a borane to an alkene. Reaction of the alkylborane with iron(III) azide in the presence of hydrogen peroxide then gives the alkyl azide.[3]