10256. Dinitrogen Tetroxide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 10544-72-6
Nitrogen oxide (N2O4); dinitrogen tetraoxide.
N2O4; mol wt 92.01.
N 30.45%, O 69.56%.

Description and references

Weakly bound dimer of nitrogen dioxide, NO2, q.v.. Prepn from lead nitrate: C. C. Addison, R. Thompson, J. Chem. Soc. 1949, S218 DOI; and chemical properties: C. C. Addison et al., ibid. 1951, 1289, 1294 DOI. Viscosity study: C. C. Addison, B. C. Smith, ibid. 1960, 1783 DOI. Structure and bonding studies: R. Ahlrichs, F. Keil, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 96, 7615 (1974) DOI; C. W. Bauschlicher, Jr. et al., ibid. 105, 745 (1983) DOI. Absorption spectra: A. P. Altshuller et al., J. Phys. Chem. 62, 607 (1958) DOI. Infrared study of equilibrium with NO2: R. J. Nordstrom, W. H. Chan, ibid. 80, 847 (1976) DOI. EPR dissociation study: K. Miaskiewicz, Z. Kecki, J. Solution Chem. 14, 665 (1985) DOI. Review of properties and inorganic reactions in N2O4/HNO3 mixtures: C. C. Addison, Chem. Rev. 80, 21-39 (1980) DOI; of applications in organic synthesis: M. Shiri, Synlett 2006, 1789-1790 DOI.

Properties

Colorless diamagnetic gas. bp 21.15°. mp 11.2°. d40 (solid) 1.95. d0 1.4905. d20 1.447. nD20 1.420. Poisonous; oxidizer; corrosive. Dielectric constant at 18°: 2.42; at 40°: 2.6. Specific conductivity (17°): 1.3×1012 ohm1 cm1. Surface tension (20°): 26.5 dyn/cm.

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are eye, nose and throat irritation, cough, mucoid frothy sputum, decreased pulmonary function, chronic bronchitis, dyspnea, chest pain, pulmonary edema, cyanosis, tachypnea and tachycardia. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 2005-149) p 228.

Use

Space shuttle rocket propellant. Reagent in oxidation and nitration reactions in organic synthesis.