CNO2

CNO2 is the chemical formula consisting of one carbon, one nitrogen, and two oxygen atoms. It does not correspond to a single well-characterized compound; rather, CNO2 may refer to several distinct isomers or transient species that can arise in high-temperature, plasma, or astrochemical contexts.

In chemical literature, CNO2 is discussed mainly as a hypothetical or short‑lived species. No stable, room-temperature compound with this composition is widely recognized. Observations are typically limited to gas-phase spectroscopy of fleeting intermediates produced in energetic processes or studied in cryogenic matrices, with computational studies providing support for possible structures and energetics.

Isomers and structures: Various connectivity patterns have been proposed for CNO2, including arrangements in which the carbon atom forms carbonyl-like links to oxygen and nitrogen in different bonding schemes. The proposed isomers differ in predicted properties such as dipole moment, vibrational spectra, and reactivity. Despite numerous theoretical predictions, experimental confirmation of a definitive, isolable CNO2 structure remains elusive.

Synthesis and occurrence: Generating CNO2 typically requires high-energy methods, such as pulsed laser photolysis or discharge sources, followed by rapid spectroscopic detection or matrix isolation. Consequently, CNO2 is primarily of interest in theoretical chemistry, reaction dynamics, and the study of transient oxonitrogen species rather than as a practical reagent.

Relation to other species: The formula is related to better-known families such as cyanates and isocyanates, which are well characterized and widely used in synthesis and materials science. CNO2 is considered in the broader context of small oxonitrogen compounds and their potential roles as intermediates in diverse chemical environments.