Phenyl azide is an organic compound with the formula C6H5N3. It is one of the prototypical organic azides. It is a pale yellow oily liquid with a pungent odor. The structure consists of a linear azide substituent bound to a phenyl group. The C−N=N angle is approximately 120°. It was discovered in 1864 by Peter Griess by the reaction of ammonia and phenyldiazonium.[2][3]
It can also be prepared by condensation of benzenediazonium salt with toluenesulfonamide, followed by hydrolysis.
Chemical reactions
Phenyl azide cycloadds to alkenes and especially alkynes, particularly those bearing electronegative substituents. In a classic example of click chemistry, phenyl azide and phenylacetylene react to give diphenyl triazole.
Thermolysis induces loss of N2 to give the highly reactive phenylnitrene C6H5N.[6]
Safety
As with many other azides, phenyl azide poses a risk of explosion,[4] so a protective blast shield is recommended during purification and handling. Distillations are hazardous. Organic Syntheses recommends a vacuum of 5mm Hg to give a boiling point of "66–68 °C/21 mm. with a bath temperature of 70–75 °C."[4] The pure substance may be stored in the dark, cold, and even then the shelf-life is only weeks.
^W. H. Pearson, P. S. Ramamoorthyin "Phenyl Azide" Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis (Ed: L. Paquette) 2004, J. Wiley & Sons, New York. doi:10.1002/047084289X.