Azobisnitriles constitute an important class of organic compounds and are used commercially as initiators in several free radical polymerisation reactions, and also as blowing agents for the production of polymer foams.1-3 The symmetrical azobisnitriles are conventionally prepared by reaction between a ketone and hydrazine to form azines, which on reaction with hydrogen cyanide, yield 1,2-bis (cyanoalkyl) hydrazines as intermediates. The oxidation of 1, 2-bis ( ...
