KINETICS AND MECHANISM OF ACID CATALIZED DECOMPOSITION OF TRIAZENES IN AQUEOUS-ETHANOL SOLUTIONS

The kinetics and the nature of final products of acid catalyzed decomposition of triazenes (R'-N=N-NHR'', where R' is aryl, and R'' is aryl or alkyl) in variably composed aqueous-ethanole solution have been studied. The mechanism including triazene protonation (R'-NH+=N-NH-R''), formation of transitional sigma(N)-state (R'-N=N-NH2+-R''), and dissociation of this state is proposed. This mechanism allows to explain the role of acide anions and aqueous molecules in triazene dissociation processes. Analytical expression for triazene decomposition constants is in agreement with experimental data.