title: First structural characterization of binary AsIII and SbIII azides.
abstract: The highly explosive molecules As(N(3))(3) and Sb(N(3))(3) were obtained in pure form by the reactions of the corresponding fluorides with (CH(3))(3)SiN(3) in SO(2) and purification by sublimation. The crystal structures and (14)N NMR, infrared, and Raman spectra were determined, and the results compared to ab initio second-order perturbation theory calculations. Whereas Sb(N(3))(3) possesses a propeller-shaped, pyramidal structure with perfect C(3) symmetry, the As(N(3))(3) molecule is significantly distorted from C(3) symmetry due to crystal packing effects.
authors.affiliation: Loker Research Institute, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1661, USA.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haiges
authors.forename: Ashwani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vij
authors.forename: Jerry A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Boatz
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schroer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gerken
authors.forename: Karl O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Christe