The successful synthesis 1 of N 5 AsF 6 in 1999 has stimulated worldwide interest in the preparation of new homonuclear polynitrogen species. One of the most promising polynitrogen candidates is the pentazolate anion, cyclo-N 5 − . Theoretical calculations 2 predict it to be vibrationally stable, and potential starting materials, eg, arylpentazoles, have been known for over 50 years. 3 In 2002, the cyclo-N 5 − anion was detected in the gas phase, using the para- ...
