Iron(III) azide, also called ferric azide, is a chemical compound with the formula . It is an explosive, very unstable, hygroscopic dark brown solid. This compound is a reagent in organic chemistry. It forms red solutions in water.
Preparation This compound is prepared by the reaction of sodium azide and iron(III) sulfate in methanol:
Iron(III) azide can also be formed by pulse gamma-irradiation of a mixture of iron(II) perchlorate, sodium azide, and hydrogen peroxide. 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.
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