Aziridinium is the ionic form of the class of molecules known as
aziridines.
Aziridines can be used to insert nitrogen atoms during synthesis, but without any substituents attached to the nitrogen in the ring, they are considered nonactivated and inert. They can be rendered active by the preparation of aziridinium ions. The creation of this ionic species imparts a 47 kJ/mol ring strain increase.
Thus, aziridinium ions render nonactivated aziridines reactive, making them feasible to use in chemical synthesis. Although serving many synthetic purposes, aziridinium ions served as key reagents that were used for the production of
nitrogen mustard
Nitrogen mustards are cytotoxic organic compounds with the chloroethylamine (Cl(CH2)2NR2) functional group. Although originally produced as chemical warfare agents, they were the first chemotherapeutic agents for treatment of cancer. Nitrogen m ...
, or "
mustard gas
Mustard gas or sulfur mustard is a chemical compound belonging to a family of cytotoxic and blister agents known as mustard agents. The name ''mustard gas'' is technically incorrect: the substance, when dispersed, is often not actually a gas, b ...
", a chemical warfare agent.
References
{{Reflist
Aziridines