| Abstract: | Preparation and Crystal Structure of Diammin Magnesium Diazide Mg(NH3)2(N3)2 Diammin magnesium diazide was synthesized from Mg3N2 and NH4N3 in liquid ammonia and crystallized at 150 °C under autogenous atmosphere of HN3 and NH3 using sealed ampoules. Mg(NH3)2(N3)2 is a colorless, microcrystalline powder which can detonate above 180 °C. Caution, preparation and manipulation of Mg(NH3)2(N3)2 is very dangerous! The crystal structure was solved from powder data using the Patterson method and a Rietveld refinement was performed (Mg(NH3)2(N3)2, I 4/m, no. 87; a = 6.3519(1), c = 7.9176(2) Å; Z = 2, R(F2)= 0.1162). The crystal structure of Mg(NH3)2(N3)2 is related to that of SnF4. It consists of planes built up from corner sharing Mg(NH3)2(N3)4 octahedra connected equatorially over their four azide bridges with the ammonia ligands being in trans position. IR data were collected and interpreted in accordance with the structural data. |
