Nitrogen single-bond energies

This IS an unusually high rotational energy barrier for a single bond and indicates that the carbon-nitrogen bond has significant double bond character as the reso nance picture suggests... 

Rotation about single bonds and conformational changes can be studied. Amides constitute a classic example. Because of the partial double bond character of the carbon-nitrogen bond as a consequence of the contribution of 2 to the electronic structure, there is an energy barrier to rotation about this bond. 

FIGURE 2.16 The bond dissociation energies, in kilojoules per mole of nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine molecules. Note how the bonds weaken in the change from a triple bond in N, to a single bond in F,... 

Nitrogen. Molecular nitrogen N2 has a dissociation energy of 950 kJ/mol, and the N-N triple bond is one of the strongest known chemical bond. Shock-wave experiments disclosed the possibility of N-N dissociation in condensed phases [224, 319-322]. From this an interest arose in the possible obtainment of arrays of N-N single bonds that could form in potentially energetic materials. Ab initio calculations of various kinds [323-327] showed that actually at high pressure... 

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