Synthesis of N-nitro-N′-(trimethylsilyl)carbodiimide

Abstract

Nitration of N,N′-bis(trimethylsilyl)carbodiimide with N₂O₅ or (NO₂)₂SiF₆ afforded N-nitro-N´-(trimethylsilyl)carbodiimide, the first representative of N-nitro carbodiimides. Its further nitration led to the release of CO₂, which is presumably formed in the course of N,N´-dinitrocarbodiimide decomposition. The reactions of N-nitro-N´-(trimethylsilyl)carbodiimide with nucleophiles take place both at the tri methylsilyl group (for example, with NH₃) to give nitrocyanamide salts and at the carbodiimide C atom (for example, with Et₂NH) to give the corresponding nitroguan idines.