Investigations on doubly nitrogen-15 labeled isocyanogen (CNCN)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/ja00016a027

The doubly nitrogen-15 labeled isotopomer C¹⁵NC¹⁵N of isocyanogen (CNCN) has been prepared by a known route in three steps from [¹⁵N₂]hydrazine sulfate and quadricyclanone. The chemical reactivity of C¹⁵NC¹⁵N has been explored. Most of the typical isonitrile reactions are too slow to compete with the polymerization of isocyanogen which starts as low as -80°C; defined products were only obtained on bromination to Br₂CNCN (7) and on FVT at 750°C to give partial conversion to cyanogen (NCCN). The ¹⁵N and ¹³C NMR spectra of 1, 4, C¹⁵NC15N, ¹⁵NCC15N, and [¹⁵N₂]7 are discussed; important aspects are the previously "missing" cyano group in CNCN which has now been identified and an unusually large ¹³C-¹⁵N coupling (¹J = 48.9 Hz) in the central bond of isocyanogen.