ABSTRACT
This chapter briefly discusses the application, chemical properties and physical properties of diazomethane. It presents detailed information on the air analysis of diazomethane. Diazomethane is used as a methylating reagent in organic synthesis and decomposes on solid surfaces. It is soluble in ether and dioxane, and explodes on heating, rough surfaces, or in the presence of impurities, or when concentrated. Diazomethane readily breaks down to N2 and is highly toxic. During the air analysis of diazomethane, air is passed through a solid sorbent tube containing octanoic acid-coated XAD-2 resin. Then, diazomethane is converted to methyl octanoate. The product desorbed with CS2 (more than 30 min contact time) and analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID).
