C2N2O

C2N2O is the chemical formula representing compounds composed of two carbon atoms, two nitrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom. It does not designate a single, well-characterized molecule; instead, several constitutional isomers with this formula have been proposed or detected in specialized studies. Because C2N2O encompasses multiple possible connectivities, the exact structural identity is typically specified by a systematic name or a structural diagram in literature or databases.

Reliable data on C2N2O are limited. Much of the information comes from theoretical calculations or from transient species observed under high-energy conditions, such as photolysis or discharge experiments, often studied with matrix isolation, mass spectrometry, or infrared spectroscopy. As a result, there is no widely used standard synthesis, and none of the isomers is known to be stable under ordinary laboratory conditions. The chemistry is primarily of interest for understanding the reactivity of small nitrogen–oxygen carbon species and for astrochemical and combustion contexts where short-lived nitrogen-oxide carbon species can form.

Physical properties such as melting and boiling points or densities are not established due to the lack of stable samples; predicted properties vary with the chosen isomer. Safety considerations reflect that such species are typically highly reactive and potentially toxic; appropriate handling in specialized facilities is essential.

See also: cyanogen (C2N2), and other small nitrogen–oxygen carbon species that appear in theoretical or high-energy chemistry studies.