C3N3H3

C3N3H3 is the molecular formula for 1,3,5-triazine, commonly referred to as s-triazine. It is the simplest member of the triazine family, a six-membered aromatic ring in which three carbon atoms alternate with three nitrogen atoms. In the parent compound, the carbon atoms bear hydrogen substituents, giving the overall formula C3N3H3. The ring has planar geometry and D3h symmetry.

Structure and properties: The triazine ring is an electron-deficient, highly aromatic system. Its unsubstituted form serves primarily as a structural building block in heterocyclic chemistry, while many practical derivatives are widely used in industry. Substitution on the ring generates a broad family of compounds with varied reactivity and applications.

Industrial relevance and derivatives: The triazine core is found in numerous important substances. Cyanuric chloride (2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine) is a key crosslinking agent in polymers and resins. Melamine and related derivatives, which feature amino groups on the triazine ring, are central to high-performance resins, flame retardants, and numerous polymers. Other derivatives, including nitrile, amino, and halogen-substituted triazines, are used in dyes, agrochemicals, and coordination chemistry as ligands.

Preparation and occurrence: The unsubstituted triazine ring is not common as a free, isolable material and is typically produced synthetically. It is commonly formed via cyclotrimerization or condensation reactions of suitable nitrile or related precursors under specific catalytic or thermal conditions.

See also: Melamine, Cyanuric chloride, Triazines.