The hydrothermolysis of the water-soluble alkyl azide dimethyl-2-azidoethylamine (2-DAMEZ) was studied at 200-250 degreesC and 275 bar in real time by flow reactor FTIR spectroscopy. The kinetics of 2-DAMEZ decomposition by N-3(-) formation represents a minor channel (8% at 250 degreesC). The main channel is loss of N-2 whose presence was determined by mass spectrometry. The Arrhenius parameters for decomposition by the two routes are E-a = 14.1 kcal/mol and ln(A, s(-1)) = 10.7 for the N-2 channel and E-a = 17.4 kcal/mol and ln(A, s(-1)) = 11.8 for the N-3(-) channel. Because of further reactions the organic products could not be identified, but (CH3)(3)N appears to be a major product. The N-3(-) ion was found to be stable in water at least to 340 degreesC. However, protonation of N-3 to form HN3 was pH dependent. DeltaH values for the reaction were calculated from a van't Hoff plot. It was found that changes in the bulk dielectric constant affect the equilibrium more than do changes in K-w in the 300-340 degreesC range. Ion pairing of NaN3 and LiN3 was also spectrally observed.