Trimethylsilyl azide
Trimethylsilyl azide is a chemical compound used as a reagent in organic chemistry.Preparation
Trimethylsilyl azide is commercially available. It may be prepared by the reaction of trimethylsilyl chloride and sodium azide:Applications
It is considered a safer replacement for hydrazoic acid in many reactions. It will however over time hydrolyze to hydrazoic acid and therefore it must be stored free of moisture It has been used in the Oseltamivir total synthesis.Safety
Trimethylsilyl azide is incompatible with moisture, strong oxidizing agents, and strong acids. In 2014, a graduate student at the University of Minnesota was injured in an explosion that occurred in the synthesis of a large batch of trimethylsilyl azide.
