Trimethylsilyl azide

Trimethylsilyl azide is the organosilicon compound with the formula (CH3)3SiN3.

A colorless liquid, it is a reagent in organic chemistry, serving as the equivalent of hydrazoic acid.

It may be prepared by the reaction of trimethylsilyl chloride and sodium azide:[4] The compound hydrolyzes to hydrazoic acid:[5] The compound adds to ketones and aldehydes to give the siloxy azides and subsequently tetrazoles:[3] It ring-opens epoxides to give azido alcohols.

Trimethylsilyl azide is incompatible with moisture, strong oxidizing agents, and strong acids.

Azides are often explosive, as illustrated by their use in air bags.

Skeletal formula of Trimethylsilyl azide
Ball-and-stick model of the trimethylsilyl azide molecule
NFPA 704 four-colored diamond Health 4: Very short exposure could cause death or major residual injury. E.g. VX gas Flammability 3: Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. Flash point between 23 and 38 °C (73 and 100 °F). E.g. gasoline Instability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogen Special hazards (white): no code