Nitrogen tribromide

Nitrogen tribromide is a chemical compound with the formula NBr₃. It is extremely explosive in its pure form, even at −100 °C, and was not isolated until 1975. It is a deep-red and volatile solid.

NBr₃ was first prepared by reaction of bistrimethylsilylbromamine (bis(trimethylsilyl)amine bromide) with bromine monochloride (with trimethylsilyl chloride as byproduct) at −87 °C according to the following equation:

where "Me" is a methyl group.

NBr₃ can be produced by the reaction of bromine or hypobromite and ammonia in a dilute aqueous buffer solution. It can also be prepared by the reaction of bromine and bromine azide. Ammonia and bromine undergo glow discharge, and after treatment, red NBr₃·6NH₃ can be obtained. Pure nitrogen NBr₃ was only produced in 1975.

Nitrogen tribromide reacts instantly with ammonia in dichloromethane solution at −87 °C to yield NBrH₂.

It also reacts with iodine in dichloromethane solution at −87 °C to produce NBr₂I, which is a red-brown solid that stable up to -20 °C.