Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026

Preparation of Stable Bicyclic Aziridinium Ions and Their Ring-Opening for the Synthesis of Azaheterocycles
Published on: August 22, 2018
Pressure-induced planar N6 rings in potassium azide
Jie Zhang1, Zhi Zeng2, Hai-Qing Lin3
1Key Laboratory of Materials Physics, Institute of Solid State Physics, CAS, and Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230031, China.
High pressure studies reveal potassium azide (KN3) transitions from an insulator to a metallic phase. At extreme pressures, N6 rings polymerize, offering insights into azide anion behavior under compression.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Computational Chemistry
Background:
- Potassium azide (KN3) is a compound with potential applications.
- Understanding its high-pressure behavior is crucial for materials science.
- Azide anions (N3-) exhibit complex structural transformations under pressure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify stable high-pressure phases of potassium azide (KN3).
- To investigate the pressure-induced phase transitions in KN3.
- To elucidate the structural evolution of N3- anions under extreme compression.
Main Methods:
- Utilized first-principles calculations.
- Employed evolutionary algorithms for phase prediction.
- Analyzed structural stability and electronic properties at varying pressures.
Main Results:
- Identified a stable I4/mcm insulating phase below 22 GPa, consistent with experimental data.
- Observed a transition to a C2/m insulating phase with increasing pressure.
- Predicted a metallic P6/mmm phase above 40 GPa featuring six-membered nitrogen rings.
- Suggested potential polymerization of N6 rings above 100 GPa due to increased compactness.
Conclusions:
- KN3 undergoes significant structural phase transitions under high pressure.
- The formation of N6 rings and their polymerization are key to understanding pressure effects on KN3.
- Computational methods accurately predict high-pressure behavior and phase transformations in KN3.
Related Concept Videos
Basicity of Heterocyclic Aromatic Amines
π Electron Effects on Chemical Shift: Aromatic and Antiaromatic Compounds
ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –⁠NH2, –OCH3
Preparation of 1° Amines: Azide Synthesis
Azide ions act as good nucleophiles and react with unhindered alkyl halides to form alkyl azides. Alkyl azides do not participate in further nucleophilic substitution reactions, thereby eliminating the chances of polyalkylated products. Alkyl azides are reduced by hydride-based reducing agents, like lithium aluminum...
Structure of Benzene: Molecular Orbital Model
Conformations of Cycloalkanes

