Dicyanamide

Dicyanamide
Structure of dicyanamide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/C2N3/c3-1-5-2-4/q-1
    Key: UKDLHLAPDXIAID-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • C(=[N-])=NC#N
Properties
C2N3
Molar mass 66.044 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references


Dicyanamide, also known as dicyanamine, is an anion having the formula C
2
N
3
. It contains two cyanide groups bound to a central nitrogen anion. The chemical is formed by decomposition of 2-cyanoguanidine. It is used extensively as a counterion of organic and inorganic salts, and also as a reactant for the synthesis of various covalent organic structures.

Dicyanamide was used as an anionic component in an organic superconductor that was, when reported in 1990, a superconductor with the highest transition temperature in its structural class. Dean Kenyon has examined the role of this chemical in reactions that can produce peptides. A co-worker then considered this reactive nature and examined the possible role dicyanamide may have had in primordial biogenesis.