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Synfacts 2011(1): 0043-0043  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1259150
Synthesis of Materials and Unnatural Products
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Taming the Silicon Tetraazide Beast

Contributor(s): Timothy M. Swager, Olesya Haze
P. Portius*, A. C. Filippou*, G. Schnakenburg, M. Davis, K.-D. Wehrstedt
The University of Sheffield, UK; Universität Bonn and BAM Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung, Berlin, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
21 December 2010 (online)

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Taming the Silicon Tetraazide BeastSynfacts 2011; 2011(03): 0348-0348
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1259576

Significance

Highly energetic silicon tetraazide 1 is synthesized safely in high yield and high purity. The compound is prepared as a solution in benzene which allows it to be handled safely. Stable Lewis base adducts of Si(N3)4 (e.g. 2) are also prepared by treatment of either Si(N3)4 or the di­sodium salt of hexaazidosilicate (3) with Lewis bases (2,2-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline). Unlike Si(N3)4 the Lewis base adduct 2 is thermally stable and does not decompose below 265 ˚C. The decomposition is very energetic (ΔHd = -2.4 kJg-¹) which means 2 and related Lewis base ­adducts could replace environmentally harmful Pb(N3)4 used as primary explosive.