Thermal decomposition of some metal salts of N-nitro-2-cyanoethylamine

Thermal decomposition kinetics of sodium, potassium, rubidium, and copper salts of N-nitro-2-cyanoethylamine has been studied in melt by manometric method combined with IR spectroscopy. The rate constant has been practically independent of the metal cation nature. Thermal decomposition mechanism has been suggested, the limiting stage being homolysis of the C-N bond to form cyanoethyl and metal nitramide radicals. Parameters of the Arrhenius equation and activation entropy have been determined for the limiting stage.