Comment on "Synthesis and characterization of the pentazolate anion cyclo-N5- in (N5)6(H3O)3(NH4)4Cl".

Zhang et al (Reports, 27 January 2017, p. 374) reported synthesis of a cyclo-N5- ion putatively stabilized in a solid-state salt by hydrogen bonding from surrounding counterions. We performed theoretical calculations suggesting that HN5 would be favored over the anion in the reported pentazolate salt via proton transfer.