Thermal Decomposition of 3,3'-Bis-Azidomethyl-Oxetane

Abstract

Measurements of gaseous species and temperature proe les were performed to study the thermal decomposition of 3,3 9-bis-azidomethyl-oxetane (BAMO). Experiments were conducted at 1 atm of argon with heat e uxes of 100 and 400 W/cm 2 , delivered by a CO 2 laser. Gaseous samples were extracted through the use of a quartz microprobe and analyzed by a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Temperature proe les were measured using the microthermocouple technique to investigate gas-phase reaction zones identie ed by the species measurements. Flame structure and surface behavior were observed using a high-magnie cation video system. Major species evolved from the surface were identie ed as N 2, HCN, H2CO, H2O, NH3, CO, and CH4. Minor species include NO, H 2CNH (m/z = 29), CH3CN(41), CH3CHNH(43), C2H3CHO(56), CO(CH)2NH(69), and C2H2. From the species measurements, at both experimental conditions, BAMO was found to undergo simultaneous decomposition of its backbone structure, indicated by the release of high concentrations of H 2CO, H2O, and CO, and of side chains, by the large amounts of N 2, HCN, and some larger molecules. No gas-phase reaction was identie ed, because most of the major species measured exhibited relatively constant concentrations in the gas-phase. The lack of a gas-phase reaction was also evident from the gas-phase temperature proe le that showed a constant value of approximately 1050 K.