The present disclosure provides a process for producing an aliphatic sulfonyl azide anhydride and the resultant aliphatic sulfonyl azide anhydride composition. The process includes: (i) thio-acetoxylating an alkenyl carboxylic acid anhydride to form a thioacetate anhydride intermediate, (ii) oxy chlorinating the thioacetate anhydride intermediate to form a sulfonyl chlorideanhydride intermediate; and (iii) azidizing the sulfonyl chloride anhydride intermediate to form an aliphatic sulfonyl azide anhydride.