Bromine Azide—Determination of the Molecular Structure by Electron Diffraction in the Gas Phase

From bromine and sodium azide, explosive bromine azide, BrN3, was prepared solvent‐free and structurally characterized for the first time by electron diffraction studies in the gas phase. The BrN3 molecule has a trans configuration with a slightly bent N3 unit, in accord with recent ab initio calculations, and a Br‐N‐N angle that is consistent with sp2 hybridization at the N atom attached to the Br atom.