Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Diazomethane: An explosive, yellowish gas of molecular formula CH₂N₂ and the molecular structure shown below. Diazomethane has many uses, but is perhaps most commonly encountered as a reactant to convert a carboxylic acid into the corresponding methyl ester.

Diazomethane resonance contributors.


Use of diazomethane to produce a methyl ester. Benzoic acid (PhCO₂H; a carboxylic acid) reacts with diazomethane to produce methyl benzoate (PhCO₂CH₃; a methyl ester) and nitrogen gas.