A Theoretical Study on the Vibrational Spectra and Thermodynamic Properties for the Derivatives of 2,5-Dipicryl-1,3,4-oxadiazole with N3, ONO2, and NNO2 Groups

The derivatives of 2,5‐dipicryl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (DPO) were optimized to obtain their molecular geometries and electronic structures at the DFT‐B3LYP/6‐31G^* level. Their IR spectra were obtained and assigned by vibrational analysis. Compared with the experimental results, all the calculated IR data were found to be reliable. Based on the frequencies scaled by 0.96 and the principle of statistic thermodynamics, the thermodynamic properties were evaluated, which are respectively linearly related with the number of azido, nitrate and nitramine groups as well as the temperature, obviously showing good group additivity.     

Substituent effects on heats of formation, group interactions, and detonation properties of polyazidocubanes

We have calculated the heats of formation (HOFs) for a series of polyazidocubanes by using the density functional theory (DFT), Hartree-Fock, and MP2 methods with 6-31G* basis set as well as semiempirical methods. The cubane skeleton was chosen for a reference compound, that is, the cubane skeleton was not broken in the process of designing isodesmic reactions. There exists group additivity for the HOF with respect to the azido group. The semiempirical AM1 method also produced reliable results for the HOFs of the title compounds, but the semiempirical MINDO3 did not. The relationship between HOFs and molecular structures was discussed. It was found that the HOF increases 330-360 kJ/mol for each additional number of the azido group being added to the cubane skeleton. The distance between azido groups slightly influences the values of HOFs. The interacting energies of neighbor azido groups in polyazidocubanes are in the range of 2.3 approximately 6.6 kJ/mol, which are so small and less related to the substituent numbers. The average interaction energy between nearest neighbor --N3 groups in the most stable conformer of octaazidocubane is 2.29 kJ/mol at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. The relative stability related to the number of azido groups of the title compounds was assessed based on the calculated HOFs, the energy gaps between the frontier orbitals, and the bond orders of the C--N3 and C--C bonds. The predicted detonation velocity of hepta- and octa-derivatives is over 9 km/s, and the detonation pressure of them is ca. 40 GPa or over.     

A theoretical prediction of the molecular and electronic structures,thermodynamic properties,and stability of 1,3-diazido-2-methyl-2-nitropropane (DAMNP)

1,3-Diazido-2-methyl-2-nitropropane (DAMNP) is a newly synthesized azido compound and may be a potential candidate of the plasticizer of propellants. For better understanding its properties, the molecular conformations, electronic structure, IR spectrum, thermodynamic properties, pyrolysis mechanism, and specific impulse (I _S) were studied using the B3LYP/6-31++G** method of density functional theory (DFT). The electronic structure of DAMNP was analyzed by the natural atomic charges, bond orders, donor–acceptor interactions, and molecular electrostatic potential (MEP). Results show that the main contributions to the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital are from –N₃ and –NO₂, respectively. The most negative area on the MEP locates at the O atoms of –NO₂, which agrees with the atomic charges distributions. The pyrolysis mechanism was investigated by considering three possible bond dissociations (C–N₃, C–NO₂, and N–N₂). Results show that the pyrolysis of DAMNP starts from the rupture of N–N₂ finished cooperatively via the H-transfer process to eliminate N₂. The lowest energy needed for pyrolysis is 165.13 kJ mol^?1. To verify the reliability of the method, the organic azido compound CH₃N₃ was also considered. DAMNP has a slightly higher thermal stability than CH₃N₃. However, using DAMNP to replace the plasticizer nitroglycerin of the nitramine modified double-base propellant leads to a decrease in I _S. Therefore, whether DAMNP can be really used as a plasticizer or not is worth further considerations.     

环杂硝胺结构和性能的DFT比较研究

用密度泛函理论（DFT）B3LYP方法,在6－31G^**基组水平下,全优化计算了 环二甲撑二硝胺（DAX）、环三甲撑三硝胺（RDX）、环四甲撑四硝胺（HMX）和环 五甲撑五硝胺（CRX）共4种环杂硝胺同系物的分子几何构型、电子结构、IR谱和热 力学性质,揭示了它们结构和性质的异同。基于Kamlet公式计算了这4种化合物的 爆速和爆压,求得与已有实验相符的递变规律。     

Crystal structures and magnetic properties of 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine (tppz)-containing copper(II) complexes

Four new copper(II) complexes of formula [Cu(2)(tppz)(dca)(3)(H(2)O)].dca.3H(2)O (1), [Cu(5)(tppz)(N(3))(10)](n)() (2), [[Cu(2)(tppz)(N(3))(2)][Cu(2)(N(3))(6)]](n)() (3), and [Cu(tppz)(N(3))(2)].0.33H(2)O (4) [tppz = 2,3,5,6-tetrakis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine and dca = dicyanamide anion] have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction methods. The structure of complex 1 is made up of dinuclear tppz-bridged [Cu(2)(tppz)(dca)(3)(H(2)O)](+) cations, uncoordinated dca anions, and crystallization water molecules. The copper-copper separation across bis-terdentate tppz is 6.5318(11) A. Complex 2 is a sheetlike polymer whose asymmetric unit contains five crystallographically independent copper(II) ions. These units are building blocks in double chains in which the central part consists of a zigzag string of copper atoms bridged by double end-on azido bridges, and the outer parts are formed by dinuclear tppz-bridged entities which are bound to the central part through single end-on azido bridges. The chains are furthermore connected through weak, double out-of-plane end-on azido bridges, yielding a sheet structure. The intrachain copper-copper separations in 2 are 6.5610(6) A across bis-terdentate tppz, 3.7174(5) and 3.8477(5) A across single end-on azido bridges, and from 3.0955(5) to 3.2047(7) A across double end-on azido bridges. The double dca bridge linking the chains into sheets yields a copper-copper separation of 3.5984(7) A. The structure of 3 consists of centrosymmetric [Cu(2)(tppz)(N(3))(2)](2+) and [Cu(2)(N(3))(6)](2)(-) units which are linked through axial Cu.N(azido) (single end-on and double end-to-end coordination modes) type interactions to afford a neutral two-dimensional network. The copper-copper separations within the cation and anion are is 6.5579(5) A (across the bis-terdentate tppz ligand) and 3.1034(6) A (across the double end-on azido bridges), whereas those between the units are 3.6652(4) A (through the single end-on azido group) and 5.3508(4) A (through the double end-to-end azido bridges). The structure of complex 4 is built of neutral [Cu(tppz)(N(3))(2)] mononuclear units and uncoordinated water molecules. The mononuclear units are grouped by pairs to give a rather short copper-copper separation of 3.9031(15) A. The magnetic properties of 1-4 have been investigated in the temperature range 1.9-300 K. The magnetic behavior of complexes 1 and 4 is that of antiferromagnetically coupled copper(II) dimers with J = -43.7 (1) and -2.1 cm(-)(1) (4) (the Hamiltonian being H = -JS(A).S(B)). An overall ferromagnetic behavior is observed for complexes 2 and 3. Despite the structural complexity of 2, its magnetic properties correspond to those of magnetically isolated tppz-bridged dinuclear copper(II) units with an intermediate antiferromagnetic coupling (J = -37.5 cm(-)(1)) plus a ferromagnetic chain of hexanuclear double azido-bridged copper(II) units (the values of the magnetic coupling within and between the hexameric units being +61.1 and +0.0062 cm(-)(1), respectively). Finally, the magnetic properties of 3 were successfully analyzed through a model of a copper(II) chain with regular alternating of three ferromagnetic interactions, J(1) = +69.4 (across the double end-on azido bridges in the equatorial plane), J(2) = +11.2 (through the tppz bridge), and J(3) = +3.4 cm(-)(1) (across the single end-on azido bridge).     

Theoretical Studies on the Structures,Thermodynamic Properties,Detonation Performance,and Pyrolysis Mechanisms for Six Dinitrate Esters

Density functional theory (DFT) has been employed to study the geometric and electronic structures of six dinitrate esters including ethylene glycol dinitrate (EGDN), diethylene glycol dinitrate (Di‐EGDN), triethylene glycol dinitrate (Tri‐EGDN), tetraethylene glycol dinitrate (Tetra‐EGDN), pentaethylene glycol dinitrate (Penta‐EGDN) and hexaethylene glycol dinitrate (Hexa‐EGDN) at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level. Their IR spectra were obtained and assigned by vibrational analysis. Based on the frequencies scaled by 0.96 and the principle of statistic thermodynamics, the thermodynamic properties were evaluated, which were linearly related with the number of CH₂CH₂O groups as well as the temperature, obviously showing good group additivity. Detonation performances were evaluated by the Kamlet‐Jacobs equations based on the calculated densities and heats of formation. It was found that density, detonation velocity, detonation pressure decreased with the increase of the number of CH₂CH₂O groups. Thermal stability and the pyrolysis mechanism of the title compounds were investigated by calculating the bond dissociation energies (BDE) at the B3LYP/6‐31G* level. For the nitrate esters, the O‐NO₂ bond is a trigger bond during a thermolysis initiation process.     

Ferromagnetic interaction in an asymmetric end-to-end azido double-bridged copper(II) dinuclear complex: a combined structure, magnetic, polarized neutron diffraction and theoretical study

A new end-to-end azido double-bridged copper(II) complex [Cu(2)L(2)(N(3))2] (1) was synthesized and characterized (L=1,1,1-trifluoro-7-(dimethylamino)-4-methyl-5-aza-3-hepten-2-onato). Despite the rather long Cu-Cu distance (5.105(1) A), the magnetic interaction is ferromagnetic with J= +16 cm(-1) (H=-JS(1)S(2)), a value that has been confirmed by DFT and high-level correlated ab initio calculations. The spin distribution was studied by using the results from polarized neutron diffraction. This is the first such study on an end-to-end system. The experimental spin density was found to be localized mainly on the copper(II) ions, with a small degree of delocalization on the ligand (L) and terminal azido nitrogens. There was zero delocalization on the central nitrogen, in agreement with DFT calculations. Such a picture corresponds to an important contribution of the d(x2-y2) orbital and a small population of the d(z2) orbital, in agreement with our calculations. Based on a correlated wavefunction analysis, the ferromagnetic behavior results from a dominant double spin polarization contribution and vanishingly small ionic forms.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a Novel 3D Inorganic-organic Hybrid Metallic Coordination Polymer, [Na2Cd（2,6-pyda）（N3）2（H2O）6]n

A novel coordination polymer [Na2Cd（2,6-pyda）（N3）2（H2O）6]n （2,6-H2pyda = 2,6- pyridinedicarboxylic acid） has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal belongs to the monoclinic system, space group C2/c, with a = 24.416（4）, b = 10.7638（17）, c = 6.9224（11） A^°, β= 106.124（2）A^°, V = 1747.7（5） A^°3, Mr = 515.64, De= 1.960 g/cm^3,μ = 1.365 mm^-1, F（000） = 1024, Z = 4, the final R = 0.0426 and wR = 0.1320. In the title complex, there exist two kinds of metal centers in the structure, cadmium ions and sodium ions. The Cd（Ⅱ） atom shows a distorted pentagonal-dipyramidal geometry defined by two O and one N atoms from one deprotonated pyda ligand and four N atoms from four μ-1,1,3 azido groups. The adjacent cadmium atoms are bridged via two μ-1,1,3 azido groups, along the c axis to afford an extended chain. There is also a 2D network which is comprised of binuclear subunits [NaE（H2O）6] connected by O atoms from coordinated water between the adjacent Cdn（pyda）n（Na）2n infinite chains. Furthermore, each cadmium atom is connected with four adjacent sodium atoms through the bridging N3- ligand in μ-1,3 patterns. Thus, the title complex exhibits a novel three-dimensional network structure.     

DFT investigation of the tri(amino)amine N(NH(2))(3)(2+) and the tri(azido)amine N(N(3))(3)(2+) dications and related mixed amino(azido)ammonium ions (N(3))(x)N(NH(2))(4-x)(+) (x = 0-4)(1)

Structures of the tri(amino)amine N(NH(2))(3)(2+) and the tri(azido)amine N(N(3))(3)(2+) dications were calculated at the density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/6-311+G level. The tri(amino)amine dication (NH(2))(3)N(2+) (1) was found to be highly resonance stabilized with a high kinetic barrier for deprotonation. The structures of diamino(azido)amine dication (NH(2))(2)N(N(3))(2+) (2), amino(diazido)amine dication (NH(2))N(N(3))(2)(2+) (3), and tri(azido)amine dication (N(3))(3)N(2+) (4) were also found to be highly resonance stabilized. The structures and energetics of the related mixed amino(azido)ammonium ions (N(3))(x)N(NH(2))(4-x)(+) (x = 0-4) were also calculated.     

Preparation,characterization and compatibility studies of poly(DFAMO/AMMO)

Poly(3-difluoroaminomethyl-3-methyl oxetane (DFAMO)/3-azidomethyl-3-methyl oxetane (AMMO)) (PDA) can be used as an energetic pre-polymer in the binder systems of solid propellants and polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs). The cationic solution polymerization affords PDA using butane diol (BDO) and boron trifluride etherate (TFBE) as initiator and catalyst, separately. Its molecular structure is characterized and thermal decomposition behavior is investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The copolymer has good thermal stability and exhibits a three-step mass-loss process with the first two steps mainly belonging to the thermal decomposition of difluoroamino and azido groups, respectively. DSC method is performed to evaluate the compatibility of PDA with some energetic components and inert materials. More than half of the selected materials are compatible with PDA, which including cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), ammonium perchlorate (AP), ammonium nitrate (AN), potassium nitrate (KNO₃), aluminum powder (Al), aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), 2-nitrodiphenylamine (NDPA) and 1,3-diethyl-1,3-diphenyl urea (C₁).     

Controlled synthesis and magnetic properties of 2D and 3D iron azide networks infinity2[Fe(N3)2(4,4'-bpy)] and infinity3[Fe(N3)2(4,4'-bpy)

Controlled synthesis of transition metal complexes with mixed ligands has led to two new compounds with the same empirical formula [Fe(N3)2(4,4'-bpy)] (4,4'-bpy=4,4'- bipyridine). The compound 2D-[Fe(N3)2(4,4'-bpy)] (I) contains end-on (EO) bridging azido ligands. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system, space group Cmmm (No. 65): a=11.444(2) A, b=15.181(3) A, c=3.458(1) A, V=600.8(2) A(3), and Z=2. The compound 3D-[Fe(N3)2(4,4'-bpy)] (II) contains end-to-end (EE) azido bridges. It belongs to the tetragonal crystal system, space group P4(1)2(1)2 (No. 92): a=8.132(1) A, b=8.132(1) A, c=16.708(3) A, V=1104.9(5) A(3), and Z=4. Crystals of I and II have been grown by the diffusion method. Phase-pure samples of both compounds have been obtained by means of an optimal solution synthesis. Spontaneous long-range magnetic ordering was found in both I and II, with I being a metamagnet, and II being a ferromagnet. For I, in the low-field region, multiple transitions at TN1=20 K and TN2=5 K were observed, and these indicated the existence of Fe moment reorientation. Heat capacity measurements on II confirmed ferromagnetic transition at TC=20 K.     

An unusual 1D manganese azido complex with novel EO/EO/EO/EE coordination mode: synthesis, structure, and magnetic properties

A novel one-dimensional manganese(II) azido complex, [Mn2(N3)4(phen)2]n (1), in which the azido bridging ligands take on an unusual new type of combination with the metal center as the sign of [-EO-EO-EO-EE-]n, has been hydrothermally synthesized, and its magnetic properties have been studied.     

Theoretical studies on four-membered ring compounds with NF2, ONO2, N3, and NO2 groups

Density functional theory (DFT) method has been employed to study the geometric and electronic structures of a series of four-membered ring compounds at the B3LYP/6-311G** and the B3P86/6-311G** levels. In the isodesmic reactions designed for the computation of heats of formation (HOFs), 3,3-dimethyl-oxetane, azetidine, and cyclobutane were chosen as reference compounds. The HOFs for N(3) substituted derivations are larger than those of oxetane compounds with --ONO2 and/or --NF2 substituent groups. The HOFs for oxetane with --ONO2 and/or --NF2 substituent groups are negative, while the HOFs for N3 substituted derivations are positive. For azetidine compounds, the substituent groups within the azetidine ring affect the HOFs, which increase as the difluoroamino group being replaced by the nitro group. The magnitudes of intramolecular group interactions were predicted through the disproportionation energies. The strain energy (SE) for the title compounds has been calculated using homodesmotic reactions. For azetidine compounds, the NF2 group connecting N atom in the ring decrease the SE of title compounds. Thermal stability were evaluated via bond dissociation energies (BDE) at the UB3LYP/6-311G** level. For the oxetane compounds, the O--NO2 bond is easier to break than that of the ring C--C bond. For the azetidine and cyclobutane compounds, the homolyses of C--NX2 and/or N--NX2 (X = O, F) bonds are primary step for bond dissociation. Detonation properties of the title compounds were evaluated by using the Kamlet-Jacobs equation based on the calculated densities and HOFs. It is found that 1,1-dinitro-3,3-bis(difluoroamino)-cyclobutane, with predicted density of ca. 1.9 g/cm(3), detonation velocity (D) over 9 km/s, and detonation pressure (P) of 41 GPa that are lager than those of TNAZ, is expected to be a novel candidate of high energy density materials (HEDMs). The detonation data of nitro-BDFAA and TNCB are also close to the requirements for HEDMs.     

Positive electron impact and chemical ionization mass spectra of some nitramine nitrates

The positive electron impact (EI) and isobutane chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra of six nitramine nitrates were studied with the aid of some accurate mass measurements. In the EI spectra, β fission relative to both the nitramine and nitrate ester is important. In the CI spectra a major ion occurs at [MH – 45]⁺ and was found to be mainly due to [M + 2H ? NO₂]⁺. All of the compounds except N-(2 hydroxyethyl)-N-(2′,4′,6′-trinitrophenyl)nitramine nitrate gave an [MH]⁺ ion. The [MH – 45]⁺ ion in the isobutane CI mass spectra of tetryl is also due to [M + 2H ? NO₂]⁺.     

New one-dimensional azido-bridged manganese(II) coordination polymers exhibiting alternating ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic interactions: structural and magnetic studies

Five Mn(II)[bond]azido coordination polymers of formula [Mn(L)(N(3))(2)](n) have been synthesized and crystallographically characterized, and their magnetic properties studied, where L's are the bidentate Schiff bases obtained from the condensation of pyridine-2-carbaldehyde with aniline (1) and its derivatives p-toluidine (2), m-toluidine (3), p-chloroaniline (4), and m-chloroaniline (5). All the complexes consist of the zigzag Mn(II)[bond]azido chains in which the Mn(II) ions are alternately bridged by two end-to-end (EE) and two end-on (EO) azido ligands, the cis-octahedral coordination being completed by the two nitrogen atoms of the Schiff base ligands. Compound 2 is unique in that the Mn[bond](EE-N(3))(2)[bond]Mn ring adopts an unusual twist conformation with the two linear azido bridges crossing each other. By contrast, the rings in the other compounds take the usual chair conformation with the two azido bridges parallel. The double EO bridging fragments in the complexes are similar with the bridging angles (Mn[bond]N[bond]Mn) ranging from 99.6 degrees to 104.0 degrees. Magnetic analyses reveal that alternating ferro- and antiferromagnetic interactions are mediated through the alternating EO and EE azido bridges with the J(F) and J(AF) parameters in the ranges of 4.1-8.0 and -11.8 to -15.4 cm(-1), respectively. Finally, the magnetostructural correlations are investigated. The present complexes follow the general trend that the ferromagnetic interaction through the double EO bridge increases with the Mn[bond]N[bond]Mn bridging angle, while the antiferromagnetic interaction through the double EE bridge is dependent on the distortion of the Mn[bond](N(3))(2)[bond]Mn ring from planarity toward the chair conformation and the Mn[bond]N[bond]N angle.     

Ion-selective electrodes in organic functional group analysis: microdetermination of nitrates and nitramines with use of the iodide electrode

A simple, selective and accurate method has been described for the rapid micro and submicro determination of organic nitrates and nitramines. It is based on reaction with mercury-sulphuric acid mixture for 5 min at room temperature followed by potentiometric titration of the mercurous ions released, a solid-state iodide-sensitive electrode being used. Three equivalents of potassium iodide as titrant are consumed per mole of nitrate or nitramine group. The results obtained, with sample sizes ranging from 1.0 to 50 mumole, are precise to +/- 0.2% and the average recovery is 99%. None of the other nitrogenous functional groups responds to this reaction.     

Synthesis and characterization of sulfuryl diazide, O2S(N3)2

Sulfuryl diazide, O(2)S(N(3))(2), previously described as an "exceedingly explosive" compound, has been isolated and characterized by IR (Ar matrix, gas) and Raman (solid) spectroscopy, and its structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography. It has a melting point of -15 °C and can be handled in small quantities in gas, liquid, and solid states. Vibrational spectroscopic studies suggest the presence of only one conformer in both gas and solid states, and the X-ray crystallography revealed an anti conformation of the two azido groups with respect to the NSN plane. Calculations predict the anti (C(2)) conformer to be 6.6 kJ mol(-1) lower in energy than the syn (C(s)) one at the CBS-QB3 level of theory. The related chlorosulfuryl azide, ClSO(2)N(3), has also been prepared and characterized by IR and Raman spectroscopy.     

Synthesis and structure of 6-azido-2,4-bis(2,2,2-trinitroethylamino)-1,3,5-triazine and its <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-nitro derivatives

Methods were developed for the synthesis of 6-azido-2,4-bis(2,2,2-trinitroethylamino)- 1,3,5-triazine and its N-nitro derivatives (6-azido-2,4-bis(2,2,2-trinitroethyl)nitramino-1,3,5-triazine and 6-azido-2-(2,2,2-trinitroethylamino)-4-(2,2,2-trinitroethyl)nitramino-1,3,5-triazine) containing combinations of azido, trinitroethyl, and nitramine groups. These compounds are of interest as components of energetic composites. The molecular and crystal structures of 6-azido-2,4-bis(2,2,2-trinitroethylamino)-1,3,5-triazine and 6-azido-2,4-bis(2,2,2-trinitroethyl) nitramino-1,3,5-triazine were studied by X-ray diffraction and NMR spectroscopy.     

Lewis adducts of the side-on end-on dinitrogen-bridged complex [{(NPN)Ta}2(mu-H)2(mu-eta 1:eta 2-N2)] with AlMe3, GaMe3, and B(C6F5)3: synthesis, structure, and spectroscopic properties

Reaction of the side-on end-on dinitrogen complex [{(NPN)Ta}(2)(mu-H)(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-N(2))] (1; in which NPN=(PhNSiMe(2)CH(2))(2)PPh), with the Lewis acids XR(3) results in the adducts [{(NPN)Ta}(2)(mu-H)(2)(mu-eta(1):eta(2)-NNXR(3))], XR(3)=GaMe(3) (2), AlMe(3) (3), and B(C(6)F(5))(3) (4). The solid-state molecular structures of 2, 3, and 4 demonstrate that the N-N bond length increases relative to those found in 1 by 0.036, 0.043, and 0.073 A, respectively. In solution complexes 2-4 are fluxional as evidenced by variable-temperature (1)H NMR spectroscopy. The (15)N{(1)H} NMR spectra of 2-4 are reported; furthermore, their vibrational properties and electronic structures are evaluated. The vibrational structures are found to be closely related to that of the parent complex 1. Detailed spectroscopic analysis on 2-4 leads to the identification of the theoretically expected six normal modes of the Ta(2)N(2) core. On the basis of experimental frequencies and the QCB-NCA procedure, the force constants are determined. Importantly, the N-N force constant decreases from 2.430 mdyn A(-1) in 1 to 1.876 (2), 1.729 (3), and 1.515 mdyn A(-1) (4), in line with the sequence of N-N bond lengths determined crystallographically. DFT calculations on a generic model of the Lewis acid adducts 2-4 reveal that the major donor interaction between the terminal nitrogen atom and the Lewis acid is mediated by a sigma/pi hybrid molecular orbital of N(2), corresponding to a sigma bond. Charge analysis performed for the adducts indicates that the negative charge on the terminal nitrogen atom of the dinitrogen ligand increases with respect to 1. The lengthening of the N-N bond observed for the Lewis adducts is therefore explained by the fact that charge donation from the complex fragment into the pi* orbitals of dinitrogen is increased, while electron density from the N-N bonding orbitals p(sigma) and pi(h) is withdrawn due to the sigma interaction with the Lewis acid.     

Determination of nitro aromatic, nitramine, and nitrate ester explosive compounds in explosive mixtures and gunshot residue by liquid chromatography and reductive electrochemical detection

Reductive and oxidative electrochemical detection with liquid chromatography is applied to the determination of nitro aromatics, nitrate esters, nitramines, and diphenylamines in military explosives and single and double base smokeless gunpowders. A sensitive and highly selective method is presented for the detection of organic “gunshot residue” on the hand of individuals who have discharged a weapon. The detection limits at S/N = 3 are of the order of 0.5, 1, 2, and 0.3 picomol for nitro aromatic, nitramine and nitrate ester explosive compounds, and diphenylamines, respectively.