Methyl azide
Methyl azide is a covalent molecule related to hydrazoic acid and other alkyl azides.
It can be prepared by a methylation of sodium azide. The first synthesis was reported in 1905. It decomposes in a first-order reaction:
Methyl azide might be a potential precursor in the synthesis of prebiotic molecules via nonequilibrium reactions on interstellar ices initiated by energetic galactic cosmic rays and photons.Methyl azide is stable at ambient temperature but may explode when heated. Presence of mercury increases the sensitivity to shock and spark. Incompatible with ; mercury; methanol; sodium azide; dimethyl sulfate; sodium hydroxide; hydrogen azide. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx.
