Following preparative work, the behavior of amides towards excess ammonia (ammoniute jbrmation) and on removal of ammonia (degradation to imides) was studied particularly with regard to the solid state (crystal structure) and the transition to the liquid phase (melting point). Energy relationships are discussed on the basis of enthalpies of formation. Studies on ternary amides and imides are still in the initial stage. -Emphasis is laid here on the establishment ofparallels between amides and hydroxides as well as between the aquo and ammono systems, and also on the differences between the amides with their dipolar NH2anion, and the halides. The results, although still incomplete, permit a survey to be given of experimental data with the aid of information obtained from the pertinent literature.
Preparation of the AmidesTwo principal methods are available for the preparation of the amides of alkali metals: reaction of the metal with (a) liquid or (b) gaseous ammonia. The purest products are obtained by the long-established reaction of metals with liquid ammonia [2]. The alkali metals dissolve in ammonia to give the familiar intensely blue solutions. The rate of formation of the metal amide and hydrogen is slow, particularly with the lighter alkali metals. It increases appreciably with rising temperature and with increasing atomic weight of the alkali metal [3,4]. Acceleration of the reaction by catalysts, e.g. iron oxide or platinized platinum, is also possible.Lithium and sodium amides are most readily obtained by sealing the solution of the alkali metal together with the catalyst in a pressure tube, taking care to exclude air and moisture, and allowing the mixture to stand at room temperature until the deep-blue solution is fully decolorized. With potassium, rubidium, and cesium, the reaction is complete after a few hours, even at low temperatures, and it is possible to work at normal pressure, so that the hydrogen formed can escape [S]. The second method depends on the reaction of the molten metal with gaseous ammonia, e.g. at 400 "C for LiNH2 or 300°C for NaNH2. With lithium, higher temperatures must be avoided as the decomposition pressure becomes too high and degradation to the imide occurs. It is advantageous to allow the very mobile molten reaction product to drain away into a cooler zone of the apparatus [6]. In addition, numerous reactions are known in organic chemistry in which alkali amides are formed as byproducts. Mention may be made of the hydrogenation [l] Communication No.