MECHANISM OF THE MONOMOLECULAR THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION OF TETRAZOLE AND5-SUBSTITUTED TETRAZOLES

The kinetic parameters of the thermal decomposition of tetrazole and 5 -alkyl- and 5-aryl-substituted tetrazoles in melts of neat substances and in nitrobenzene solutions have been determined using the manometri c method. The limiting stages of the monomolecular decomposition, whic h determine the observed rate of nitrogen formation, include the fast reversible transformation of the 1H- and 2H-forms and the reversible o pening of the 2H-form followed by the formation and subsequent cleavag e of the corresponding intermediate diazo compound.