Nitrene

The generic structure of a nitrene group

In chemistry, a nitrene or imene (R−:Ṅ·) is the nitrogen analogue of a carbene. The nitrogen atom is uncharged and monovalent,[1] so it has only 6 electrons in its valence level—two covalent bonded and four non-bonded electrons. It is therefore considered an electrophile due to the unsatisfied octet. A nitrene is a reactive intermediate and is involved in many chemical reactions.[2][3] The simplest nitrene, HN, is called imidogen, and that term is sometimes used as a synonym for the nitrene class.[4]

  1. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "nitrenes". doi:10.1351/goldbook.N04145
  2. ^ Lwowski, W., ed. (1970). Nitrenes. New York: Interscience.
  3. ^ Wentrup, C. (1984). Reactive Intermediates. New York: Wiley.
  4. ^ IUPAC, Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book") (1997). Online corrected version: (2006–) "imidogens". doi:10.1351/goldbook.I02951