Furazan, or 1,2,5-oxadiazole, is a heterocyclic aromatic organic compound consisting of a five-atom ring containing 1 oxygen and 2 nitrogen atoms. The furazan ring system is also found in the steroid furazabol. Furazan and its derivatives are obtained from the oxime derivatives of 1,2-diketones.
In theory the simplest means of producing furazan is the cyclic-dehydration of (the di-oxime of glyoxal), but the instability of furazan to high temperature or extremes of pH requires that this process be performed carefully. The formation of furazan from glyoxime is also exothermic and takes place with the copious evolution of noxious gases. The reaction may be achieved by heating glyoxime to 150 ðC in the presence of succinic anhydride. Furazan will evaporate at that temperature, which continuously removes the product from the reaction mixture.
3,4-Dimethylfurazan (b.p. 154âÂÂ159 ðC) is prepared by an analogous process by dehydrating dimethylglyoxime. A variety of related derivatives are known, including diphenyl- and methylethylfurazan.
Potassium permanganate oxidizes 3,4-dimethylfurazan first to methylfurazancarboxylic acid and then to furazandicarboxylic acid. By warming oxyfurazan acetic acid with excess of potassium permanganate, oxyfurazancarboxylic acid is obtained. It crystallizes as prisms (m.p. 175 ðC). Furazancarboxylic acid (m.p. 107 ðC) is prepared by oxidation of furazanpropionic acid with potassium permanganate. It dissolves in base to give nitrosocyanacetate.
The energetic precursor, diaminofurazan, can be prepared by heating diaminoglyoxime with potassium hydroxide followed by cooling to give white crystals. Like many other furazans, diaminofurazan forms stable complexes with copper(II) salts.
Furoxan may be formed by dimerization of nitrile oxides