HCN polymers characterized by SSNMR: Solid state reaction of crystalline tetramer (diaminomaleonitrile)

The HCN tetramer, diaminomaleonitrile, crystallizes in sheets with amine and nitrile groups of neighboring molecules in close proximity. This suggests the possibility of relatively facile acid-base addition to form a protopeptide polymer. We find that moderate heating under argon indeed results in an unmistakable reaction, with the abrupt transformation of pale crystallites to shrunken dark particles that become electrically conductive upon doping with iodine. Since nearly a quarter of the mass is lost in the process and the released gas condenses, polymerizes, and reacts with aqueous AgNO3 like HCN, it seems likely that the dark solid is a polymer of HCN trimer. C-13 and N-15 solid state NMR spectra show the formation of new N-C bonds, and entirely different functional groups from those observed in polymers formed by liquid HCN. These include three different types of nitrogen functionalities and an absence of saturated carbon or nitrile. The observed chemical shifts, optical properties, and electrical conductivity are consistent with polymers of HCN trimer that have undergone cyclization to form poly-[aminoimidazole].