Nitrocarbamate, potassium

Five hundred grams of potassium hydroxide is dissolved in 2 1. of purified methanol. The insoluble material is allowed to settle, and 1500 ml. of this solution is poured into a 3-1. beaker. The solution is cooled to 0 to 3°C. 

Fifty grams of powdered ammonium nitrourethane is added to a mixture of 100 ml. of water and 100 ml. of 

Potassium nitrocarbamate is a very unstable compound, affected by moisture, heat, and carbon dioxide. It sometimes decomposes spontaneously. It should, therefore, be prepared in no larger quantity than provided for above and stored in a vacuum desiccator over potassium hydroxide in a refrigerator. 

---

Nitroamide, the simplest of the nitroamines, is formed by the action of dilute acid on potassium nitrocarbamate, which itself results from the nitration of urethane and the subsequent hydrolysis of the nitro ester by means of alcoholic potassium hydroxide. 

In 1894, J. Thiele and A. Lachman 10 prepared nitramide, nr nitroxyl amide, NH2.N02, i.e. H2N202, isomeric with hyponitrous acid. They found that by adding a soln. of potassium hydroxide to a cone. aq. soln. of nitrourethane, N02.NH.C00C2H5, at 0°, potassium nitrocarbamate, N02.NH.C00K, separates... 

The method employed is essentially the same as that first proposed by Thiele and Lachman1 but has been modified in several details, the most important change involving the manner of extracting2 the nitramide from aqueous solution. The purity and yields are markedly affected by slight changes in procedure consequently exact directions are given in considerable detail. Potassium nitrocarbamate and nitramide are best made under conditions of low temperature and low humidity. Contact with cork and rubber should be avoided wherever possible. 

Potassium nitrocarbamate (9.1 g.) is weighed on glazed paper and, with the aid of a porcelain or platinum spatula, is added in very small portions to the cold dilute sulfuric acid. The solution is swirled continuously. Whenever the ice melts, the flask is immersed in the cold bath until ice again forms. 

Potassium metaperiodate, 171 Potassium nitrocarbamate, 68, 70 Potassium trioxalatoaluminiate, 36 Potassium trioxalatochromiate, 37 Potassium trioxalatocobaltiate, 37 Potassium trioxalatoferriate, 36... 

Potassium nitridorhenate, 6 167 Potassium nitridotrisulfate, 2 182 Potassium nitrocarbamate, potassium salt, 1 68, 70 Potassium V-nitrosohydroxylamine-V-sulfonate, 5 117 by metathesis, 6 120 Potassium octacyanomolybdate(IV) 2-hydrate, 3 160 Potassium osmiamate, 6 204... 

Nitramide can be prepared by the decomposition of potassium nitrocarbamate in an acidic medium ... 

The reaction of acid with potassium nitrocarbamate results in the formation of nitramide (equation 15.107) which is an isomer of hyponitrous acid. Nitramide has been structurally characterized one N atom is trigonal planar (O2AN) and the other is trigonal pyramidal (H2AN)- The compound is potentially explosive, and undergoes base-catalysed decomposition to N2O and H2O. 

---