Nitrogen tribromide is a chemical compound with the formula NBr<sub>3</sub>. It is extremely explosive in its pure form, even at âÂÂ100 ðC, and was not isolated until 1975. It is a deep-red and volatile solid.
NBr<sub>3</sub> was first prepared by reaction of bistrimethylsilylbromamine (bis(trimethylsilyl)amine bromide) with bromine monochloride (with trimethylsilyl chloride as byproduct) at âÂÂ87 ðC according to the following equation:
where "Me" is a methyl group.
NBr<sub>3</sub> can be produced by the reaction of bromine or hypobromite and ammonia in a dilute aqueous buffer solution. It can also be prepared by the reaction of bromine and bromine azide. Ammonia and bromine undergo glow discharge, and after treatment, red NBr<sub>3</sub>÷6NH<sub>3</sub> can be obtained. Pure nitrogen NBr<sub>3</sub> was only produced in 1975.
Nitrogen tribromide reacts instantly with ammonia in dichloromethane solution at âÂÂ87 ðC to yield NBrH<sub>2</sub>.
It also reacts with iodine in dichloromethane solution at âÂÂ87 ðC to produce NBr<sub>2</sub>I, which is a red-brown solid that stable up to -20 ðC.