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Author: Subject: Azides
Axt
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[*] posted on 26-3-2026 at 19:29


I'm not sure about that, it seems a lot of assumptions that really rely on experimentation. It does remind me of a route I proposed on here many years ago. The convenience is that biurea has low solubility so easily separated.

H2N-CO-NH2 + Cl2 --> H2N-CO-NHCl

H2N-CO-NHCl + NH3 --> H2N-CO-NH-HN-CO-NH2 + H2N-CO-NH-NH2

H2N-CO-NH-HN-CO-NH2 + HNO2 --> H2N-CO-N3

H2N-CO-N3 + H2O --> NH4N3 + CO2

2NH4N3 + Pb(NO3)2 --> Pb(N3)2 + 2NH4NO3

I have made the carbamoyl azide above, but through semicarbazide. It is surprisingly stable and insensitive. I have not attempted the other reactions.
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chempyre235
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[*] posted on 27-3-2026 at 08:19


That's definitely a fascinating synthesis. There have been studies done trying to identify the cause of semicarbazides in certain cooked foods, which are linked to urea, urea derivatives, hydantoins, etc., and in humans and animals from nitrofurazone abuse. These studies seem to suggest an azine intermediate, though along the same lines as I've proposed. Additionally, I've found a couple of patents related to this. See paragraph [0003] in the following:
https://data.epo.org/publication-server/rest/v1.0/publicatio...

Seems to me that it may be possible to get azide from biuret, it just may not be as straightforward as I thought. As you said, though, it's a matter of experimentation. My proposal is merely meant to be hypothetical. Though, if someone wants to verify these, they're more than welcome. I like pyros, but I don't trust myself with them. ;)

Here are my other sources.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26140456/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19440049.2015.10...

[Edited on 3/27/2026 by chempyre235]




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Axt
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[*] posted on 28-3-2026 at 00:46


The problem is separation, let's say you've achieved intermittent hydrazoic acid, there so many other things floating around there that will oxidise (as you've said) and or contaminate any way of extracting it. It's why the insolubility of biurea may make it a more viable intermediate.

I did have about 1g of carbamoyl azide still sitting about, so I tested the hydrolysis. 0.5 g H2N-C(=O)-N3 was dissolved into boiling water, let boil for about 5 ins then 1g of AgNO3 in water was added. Immediate white precip. that on drying has all the energetic properties of silver azide. I boiled the filtrate a bit longer and another equal crop was obtained (78% yield in total) so it may require 30min reflux or so.

Carbamoyl azide will itself form a silver salt, but it won't precip. just from AgNO3, the addition of sodium acetate forces precipitation. Its salt is feebly energetic.

My original intent with the carbamoyl azide was to try cast it, mp. 96C, but it volatilizes so readily it forms whisps of crystal shards above it as it reaches melt temp.

Attached is the chunky carbamoyl azide, from nitrosation of semicarbazide followed by ethyl acetate extraction, drying and evaporation.

[Edited on 28-3-2026 by Axt]

carbamoyl azide crystals sm.jpg - 472kB
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