Azirene

Azirene is a three-membered heterocyclic organic compound. Its chemical formula is C2H3N. Structurally, it is a cyclic imine, featuring a three-membered ring composed of two carbon atoms and one nitrogen atom, with a double bond between a carbon and the nitrogen atom. Azirene is an isomer of aziridine, which is a saturated three-membered ring containing one nitrogen and two carbon atoms. Due to the inherent ring strain in the three-membered ring and the presence of a double bond, azirene is a highly reactive molecule. It is considered an unsaturated aziridine. The compound is relatively unstable and prone to ring-opening reactions. These reactions can be initiated by various reagents, including acids, electrophiles, and nucleophiles, leading to the formation of different acyclic products. Research into azirene and its derivatives explores their potential as synthetic intermediates in organic chemistry. Their reactivity makes them useful for introducing specific functional groups or for constructing more complex molecular architectures. Despite its instability, azirene has been studied for its chemical properties and synthetic applications.