Dicyanamide

Not to be confused with Dicyandiamide.
Structure of dicyanamide

Dicyanamide, also known as dicyanamine, is an anion having the formula C
2N−
3. It contains two cyanide groups bound to a central nitrogen anion. The chemical is formed by decomposition of 2-cyanoguanidine. It is used extensively as a counterion of organic and inorganic salts, and also as a reactant for the synthesis of various covalent organic structures.

Dicyanimide was used as an anionic component in an organic superconductor that was, when reported in 1990, a superconductor with the highest transition temperature in its structural class.[1] Dean Kenyon has examined the role of this chemical in reactions that can produce peptides.[2] A co-worker then considered this reactive nature and examined the possible role dicyanamide may have had in primordial biogenesis.[3]

  1. ^ Kini, Aravinda M.; Geiser, Urs; Wang, Hau H.; Carlson, K. Douglas; Williams, Jack M.; Kwok, W. K.; Vandervoort, K. G.; Thompson, James E.; Stupka, Daniel L. (1990). "A new ambient-pressure organic superconductor, κ-(ET)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br, with the highest transition temperature yet observed (inductive onset Tc= 11.6 K, resistive onset = 12.5 K)". Inorganic Chemistry. 29 (14): 2555–2557. doi:10.1021/ic00339a004.
  2. ^ Steinman, G.; Kenyon, D. H.; Calvin, M. (1966). "The mechanism and protobiochemical relevance of dicyanamide-medicated peptide synthesis". Biochim Biophys Acta. 124 (2): 339–350. doi:10.1016/0304-4165(66)90197-8. PMID 5968904.
  3. ^ Steinman, G.; Cole, M. N. (1967). "Synthesis of biologically pertinent peptides under possible primordial conditions". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 58 (2): 735–742. doi:10.1073/pnas.58.2.735. PMC 335695. PMID 5233470.