Azomethane

Azomethane is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3-N=N-CH3. It exhibits cis-trans isomerism. It can be produced by the reaction of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride with copper(II) chloride in sodium acetate solution. The reaction produces the azomethane complex of copper(I) chloride, which can produce free azomethane by thermal decomposition. It is the source of methyl radical in laboratory.
 * CH3-N=N-CH3 → 2 CH3· + N2