Tributyltin azide is an organotin compound. It is usually synthesized from tributyltin chloride and sodium azide

Sodium azide

Sodium azide is the inorganic compound with the formula NaN3. This colourless azide salt is the gas-forming component in many car airbag systems. It is used for the preparation of other azide compounds. It is an ionic substance and is highly soluble in water. It is extremely...

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Uses

Tributyltin azide is a reagent used in the synthesis of tetrazolylbenzene compounds. It has been used in pharmaceutical research and production to synthesize tetrazole

Tetrazole

Tetrazoles are a class of synthetic organic heterocyclic compound, consisting of a 5-member ring of four nitrogen and one carbon atom . The simplest is tetrazole itself, CN4H2. They are unknown in nature...

 derivatives, which in turn are used to create angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

In the above synthesis of tetrazole derivatives, tributyltin azide has been replaced by the less toxic trioctyltin azide and organoaluminium

Organoaluminium

Organoaluminium chemistry is the study of compounds containing bonds between carbon and aluminium bond. It is one of the major themes within organometallic chemistry. Illustrative organoaluminium compounds are the dimer trimethylaluminium, the monomer triisobutylaluminium, and the...

 azides.

Safety

Lower alkyl tin compounds are generally highly toxic. Tributyltin azide has a penetrating odor, which is readily absorbed by other materials, for example, clothes of workers, reaction vessels or drying machines. Once the vapor is absorbed it is hard to remove. Skin exposure to tributyltin azide causes skin rashes, itching or blisters.