A variety of methods for the generation of diimide exist. The most synthetically useful methods are:
* Oxidation of hydrazine with oxygen, in the presence of a copper(II) catalyst and/or a carboxylic acid
* Decarboxylation of dipotassium azodicarboxylate in the presence of an acid
* Thermal decomposition of sulfonylhydrazides
Procedures (particularly those employing air as an oxidant) are typically straightforward and do not require special handling techniques.