**Introduction to Ammonia-d2 (Deuterated Ammonia, ND₃)** Ammonia-d2 (ND₃), also known as deuterated ammonia, is a stable isotopologue of ammonia where hydrogen atoms are replaced by deuterium (D), a heavy isotope of hydrogen. This compound is widely used in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy as a non-reactive, deuterated solvent for studying proton-active compounds. Its high isotopic purity makes it valuable in chemical research, pharmaceuticals, and materials science for labeling experiments and mechanistic studies. Additionally, ammonia-d2 serves as a precursor in synthesizing deuterated compounds and plays a role in specialized industrial applications, including neutron moderation. With its unique properties, ND₃ is essential for advanced scientific and analytical applications.
Preparation Process: Ammonia-d2 (ND3) can be prepared by reacting nitrogen gas (N2) with deuterium gas (D2) over a catalyst at high temperature and pressure. A common method involves using an iron-based catalyst (e.g., promoted iron oxide) at 400–500°C and 150–300 atm. Alternatively, ND3 can be synthesized by deuterium exchange with regular ammonia (NH3) using a deuterium source like D2O. This involves bubbling NH3 gas through heavy water (D2O) in the presence of a basic catalyst (e.g., KOD) to facilitate H/D exchange. The product is then purified by fractional distillation or trapping in a cold finger under vacuum.
Usage Scenarios: Ammonia-d2 (ND3) is primarily used as a deuterated solvent in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, offering improved resolution for studying hydrogen-containing compounds. It serves as a source of deuterium in chemical synthesis, particularly in labeling experiments to trace reaction mechanisms or study kinetic isotope effects. In the field of neutron scattering, ammonia-d2 is employed as a moderator or target material due to its high neutron scattering cross-section. Additionally, it finds applications in the production of deuterated pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals. Its stable isotopic properties make it valuable in research involving isotopic labeling and vibrational spectroscopy studies.