Synthesis and Characterization of Energetic Salts of the (C4N122–) Dianion

3, 6‐Bis(tetrazol‐5‐yl)‐1, 2, 4, 5‐tetrazine is a nitrogen‐rich energetic compound readily prepared and a strong dibasic acid. By the reaction with energetic bases such including hydroxylamine, triaminoguanidine, hydrazine, and diaminourea, multiple ionic energetic materials were prepared and characterized for the first time. Both chemical (multinuclear NMR, Infrared, Raman, MS, etc) as well as explosive (Impact, Friction, Static sensitivities) properties are reported. The materials prepared, with the exception of the silver salt, which is a primary explosive, fall into the classification of low‐sensitivity energetic materials due to desensitizing hydration waters. Calculated explosive performances using the EXPLO5 computer code are also reported.     

Nitration Products of 5‐Amino‐1H‐tetrazole and Methyl‐5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazoles – Structures and Properties of Promising Energetic Materials

The nitration of 5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazole ( 1 ), 5‐amino‐1‐methyl‐1H‐tetrazole ( 3 ), and 5‐amino‐2‐methyl‐2H‐tetrazole ( 4 ) with HNO₃ (100%) was undertaken, and the corresponding products 5‐(nitrimino)‐1H‐tetrazole ( 2 ), 1‐methyl‐5‐(nitrimino)‐1H‐tetrazole ( 5 ), and 2‐methyl‐5‐(nitramino)‐2H‐tetrazole ( 6 ) were characterized comprehensively using vibrational (IR and Raman) spectroscopy, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁴N, and ¹⁵N) NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. The molecular structures in the crystalline state were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The thermodynamic properties and thermal behavior were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the heats of formation were determined by bomb calorimetric measurements. Compounds 2, 5 , and 6 were all found to be endothermic compounds. The thermal decompositions were investigated by gas‐phase IR spectroscopy as well as DSC experiments. The heats of explosion, the detonation pressures, and velocities were calculated with the software EXPLO5, whereby the calculated values are similar to those of common explosives such as TNT and RDX. In addition, the sensitivities were tested by BAM methods (drophammer and friction) and correlated to the calculated electrostatic potentials. The explosion performance of 5 was investigated by Koenen steel sleeve test, whereby a higher explosion power compared to RDX was reached. Finally, the long‐term stabilities at higher temperatures were tested by thermal safety calorimetry (FlexyTSC). X‐Ray crystallography of monoclinic 2 and 6 , and orthorhombic 5 was performed.     

5,5′‐Hydrazinebistetrazole: An Oxidation‐stable Nitrogen‐rich Compound and Starting Material for the Synthesis of 5,5′‐Azobistetrazolates

All 5,5′‐hydrazinebistetrazoles reported in the literature are sensitive to oxidation and react with atmospheric oxygen to yield the corresponding 5,5′‐azobistetrazolates on time. Herewith, we report on the synthesis of the free acid 5,5′‐hydrazinebistetrazole (HBT) which showed to be stable on air for extended periods of time. The compound was fully characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods and its X‐ray structure was determined by diffraction techniques. Besides, we determined its explosive properties by BAM methods and calculated its heat of formation (+414 kJ mol^?1), detonation velocity (8523 m s^?1) and detonation pressure (27.7 GPa). HBT proved to be very safe to handle (impact sensitivity: >30 J, friction sensitivity: ～108 N) and was used as a starting material for the synthesis of some already reported 5,5′‐azobistetrazolates: NH₄⁺, NH₂NH₃⁺, Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺ and Ba²⁺.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Bis(triaminoguanidinium) 5,5′‐Dinitrimino‐3,3′‐azo‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazolate – A Novel Insensitive Energetic Material

The synthesis of 5,5′‐diamino‐3,3′‐azo‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 3 ) by reaction of 5‐acetylamino‐3‐amino‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 2 ) with potassium permanganate is described. The application of the very straightforward and efficient acetyl protection of 3,5‐diamino‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole allows selective reactions of the remaining free amino group to form the azo‐functionality. Compound 3 is used as starting material for the synthesis of 5,5′‐dinitrimino‐3,3′‐azo‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 4 ), which subsequently reacted with organic bases (ammonia, hydrazine, guanidine, aminoguanidine, triaminoguanidine) to form the corresponding nitrogen‐rich triazolate salts ( 5 – 9 ). All substances were fully characterized by IR and Raman as well as multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and differential scanning calorimetry. Selected compounds were additionally characterized by low temperature single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction measurements. The heats of formation of 4 – 9 were calculated by the CBS‐4M method to be 647.7 ( 4 ), 401.2 ( 5 ), 700.4 ( 6 ), 398.4 ( 7 ), 676.5 ( 8 ), and 1089.2 ( 9 ) kJ · mol^–1. With these values as well as the experimentally determined densities several detonation parameters were calculated using both computer codes EXPLO5.03 and EXPLO5.04. In addition, the sensitivities of 5 – 9 were determined by the BAM drophammer and friction tester as well as a small scale electrical discharge device.     

N,N′‐Diorganylsubstituted Hydrazinium Azides

1,2‐Diorganylsubstituted derivatives of hydrazinium azide were examined in order to investigate their higher volatility and higher sensitivity to initiation compared to 1,1‐diorganylsubstituted hydrazinium azide derivatives. The compounds were synthesized from the respective hydrazines by reaction with HN₃ and characterized by elemental analysis, vibrational (IR, Raman) and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁴N). Their sensitivity to friction, shock, electrostatic impact and heat was examined and the explosion products were investigated. The crystal structure of pyrazolidinium azide was determined.     

Energetic Salts Based on Monoanions of N,N‐Bis(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)amine and 5,5′‐Bis(tetrazole)

High‐density energetic salts that contain nitrogen‐rich cations and the 5‐(tetrazol‐5‐ylamino)tetrazolate (HBTA^?) or the 5‐(tetrazol‐5‐yl)tetrazolate (HBT^?) anion were readily synthesized by the metathesis reactions of sulfate salts with barium compounds, such as bis[5‐(tetrazol‐5‐ylamino)tetrazolate] (Ba(HBTA)₂), barium iminobis(5‐tetrazolate) (BaBTA), or barium 5,5′‐bis(tetrazolate) (BaBT) in aqueous solution. All salts were fully characterized by IR spectroscopy, multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁵N) NMR spectroscopy, elemental analyses, density, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and impact sensitivity. Ba(HBTA)₂ ? 4 H₂O crystallizes in the triclinic space group P$\bar 1$ , as determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, with a density of 2.177 g cm^?3. The densities of the other organic energetic salts range between 1.55 and 1.75 g cm^?3 as measured by a gas pycnometer. The detonation pressure (P) values calculated for these salts range from 19.4 to 33.6 GPa, and the detonation velocities (ν_D) range from 7677 to 9487 m s^?1, which make them competitive energetic materials. Solid‐state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy was used as an effective technique to determine the structure of the products that were obtained from the metathesis reactions of biguanidinium sulfate with barium iminobis(5‐tetrazolate) (BaBTA). Thus, the structure was determined as an HBTA salt by the comparison of its solid‐state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy with those of ammonium 5‐(tetrazol‐5‐ylamino)tetrazolate (AHBTA) and diammonium iminobis(5‐tetrazolate) (A₂BTA).     

Nitrogen‐Rich Energetic Dianionic Salts of 3, 4‐Bis(1H‐5‐­tetrazolyl)furoxan with Excellent Thermal Stability

Nitrogen‐rich 3, 4‐bis(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)furoxan (H₂BTF, 2 ) and its energetic salts with excellent thermal stability were successfully synthesized and fully characterized by ¹H, and ¹³C NMR, and IR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and elemental analyses. Additionally, the structures of barium ( 3 ) and 1‐methyl‐3, 4, 5‐triamino‐triazolium ( 10 ) salts were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The densities of the energetic salts paired with organic cations range between 1.56 and 1.85 g · cm^–3 as measured by a gas pycnometer. Based on the measured densities and calculated heats of formation, the detonation pressures and velocities are calculated to be in the range 23.4–32.0 GPa and 7939–8915 m · s^–1, which make them competitive energetic materials.     

1D Structure Sodium Coordination Anion based on [5‐(Dinitromethylene)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐tetrazole]: Syntheses,Structures, and Thermal Behavior

The ten‐coordinate complex, (HATr)[Na(DNMz)] · H₂O ( 1 ) was synthesized by reaction of 5‐(dinitromethylene)‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐tetrazole (DNMz), sodium hydroxide, and 3‐hydrazinium‐4‐amino‐1,2,4‐1H‐triazolium dichloride (HATr) in aqueous solution and characterized by various physico‐chemical techniques. Complex 1 is an energetic material with a nitrogen content of 51.2 % and a decomposition temperature of 128.9 °C. The molecular structure of complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system with P2(1)/c group and shows an infinite 1D chain structure. The heat of formation was determined as –122.27 kJ · mol^–1 by using bomb calorimetry. In addition, the kinetic parameters were studied by Kissinger's and Ozawa‐Doyle's methods.     

Synthesis and Investigation of 1,3‐Bis(5‐nitraminotetrazol‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol and its Salts

1,3‐Bis(5‐nitraminotetrazol‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol ( 5 ) was prepared by the reaction of 5‐aminotetrazole and 1,3‐dichloroisopropanol under basic conditions. Obtained 1,3‐bis(5‐aminotetrazol‐1‐yl)propan‐2‐ol ( 3 ) was nitrated with 100 % nitric acid. In this context in situ hydrolysis of the nitrate ester was studied. Metal and nitrogen‐rich salts of the neutral compound 5 were prepared and analyzed. Crystal structures of three salts and the sensitivities toward impact, friction and electrostatic discharge were determined as well. The performance values of the compounds were calculated using the EXPLO5 program. A detailed comparison of the different salts is also enclosed.     

Silver Salt and Derivatives of 5‐Azido‐1H‐1, 2, 4‐triazole‐3‐­carbonitrile

This study features the preparation of three new energetic C‐azido‐1, 2, 4‐triazoles, with the anion of one being a new binary C–N compound. 5‐Azido‐1H‐1, 2, 4‐triazole‐3‐carbonitrile ( 1 ) was prepared from 5‐amino‐1H‐1, 2, 4‐triazole‐3‐carbonitrile and further derivatized to 5‐azido‐1H‐1, 2, 4‐triazole‐3‐carbohydroximoyl chloride ( 5 ) with 3‐azido‐1H‐1, 2, 4‐triazole‐5‐carboxamidoxime ( 3 ) as an intermediate. The ability of 1 and 3 for salt formation was shown with the respective silver salts 2 and 4 . All compounds were well characterized by various means, including IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and DSC. The molecular structures of 1 , 3 , and 5 in the solid state were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The sensitivities towards various outer stimuli (impact, friction, electrostatic discharge) were determined according to BAM standards. The silver salts were additionally tested for their potential as primary explosives.     

Nitrogen‐Rich Alkali Metal Salts (Na and K) of [Bis(N,N‐bis(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)amine)‐zinc(II)] Anion: Syntheses,Crystal Structures,and Energetic Properties

Two nitrogen‐rich alkali metal salts based on nitrogen‐rich anion [Zn(bta)₂]^2–: {[Na₂Zn(bta)₂(H₂O)₈] · H₂O}_n ( 1 ) and {[K₂Zn(bta)₂(H₂O)₄]}_n ( 2 ) were synthesized by reactions of alkali hydroxide, N,N‐bis(1H‐tetrazol‐5‐yl)amine (H₂bta), and zinc chloride in aqueous solutions. The crystal structures of 1 and 2 were determined by low temperature single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and fully characterized by elemental analysis and FT‐IR spectroscopy. The structures demonstrate that an infinite 1‐dimensional (1D) chain structure is constructed by Na⁺ ions and bridging water molecules in compound 1 , which is connected by extensive hydrogen bonds forming a complex 3D network, whereas compound 2 features a more complicated 3D metal‐organic framework (MOF). The thermal behaviors of 1 and 2 were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. The DSC results illustrate that both compounds exhibit high thermal stabilities (decomposition temperature > 345 °C). In addition, the heats of formation were calculated on the basis of the experimental constant‐volume energies of combustion measured by using bomb calorimetry. Lastly, the sensitivities towards impact and friction were assessed according to Bundesamt für Materialforschung (BAM) standard methods.     

Energetic Materials Based on the 5‐Azido‐3‐nitro‐1, 2,4‐tri­azolate Anion

This study presents the preparation of 5‐azido‐3‐nitro‐1H‐1, 2,4‐triazole ( 1 ) in both good yield and high purity, starting from commercially available chemicals in a three step synthesis. Furthermore, several metal and nitrogen‐rich salts with sodium ( 3 ), potassium ( 4 ), cesium ( 5 ), silver ( 6 ), lead ( 7 ), ammonium ( 8 ), guanidinium ( 9 ), and aminoguanidinium ( 10 ) were prepared by simple acid‐base reactions. All compounds were well characterized by various means, including vibrational (IR, Raman) and multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C, ¹⁴N, ¹⁵N) NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and DSC. Additionally the structure of 7 was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The sensitivities towards various outer stimuli (impact, friction, electrostatic discharge) were determined according to BAM standards. The metal salts were tested as potential primary explosives utilizing various preliminary tests.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Energetic Properties of 6‐Amino‐tetrazolo[1,5‐b]‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine‐7‐N‐oxide: A Nitrogen‐Rich Material with High Density

The synthesis and energetic properties of a novel N‐oxide high‐nitrogen compound, 6‐amino‐tetrazolo[1,5‐b]‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine‐7‐N‐oxide, are described. Resulting from the N‐oxide and fused rings system, this molecule exhibits high density, excellent detonation properties, and acceptable impact and friction sensitivities, which suggests potential applications as an energetic material. Compared to known high‐nitrogen compounds, such as 3,6‐diazido‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine (DiAT), 2,4,6‐tri(azido)‐1,3,5‐triazine (TAT), and 4,4′,6,6′‐tetra(azido)azo‐1,3,5‐triazine (TAAT), a marked performance and stability increase is seen. This supports the superior qualities of this new compound and the advantage of design strategy.     

The Synthesis of α‐Azidoesters and Geminal Triazides

Three simple methods for the synthesis of geminal triazides are described: Starting from 1) 3‐oxocarboxylic acids, 2) iodomethyl ketones, or 3) terminal olefins, a range of triazidomethyl ketones can be constructed under mild oxidative reaction conditions by the use of IBX‐SO₃K, a sulfonylated derivative of 2‐iodoxybenzoic acid (IBX), and NaN₃ as an azide source. This is the first report of representatives of this novel class of triazide compounds: Despite their high nitrogen content, the geminal triazides are easy to handle, even when preparative‐scale syntheses are performed. (Caution: These procedures still require protective measures!) The triazides are now broadly available for further studies regarding their properties and reactivity. Furthermore, we show how the method can be used to provide α‐azidoesters, which are potential building blocks for amino acids.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Salts of the 3,6‐Dinitro‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐b][1,2,4]triazolate Anion: Insensitive Energetic Materials Available From Economical Precursors

In this work, the treatment of 3,6,7‐triamino‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐b][1,2,4]triazole (TATOT)^[1] with sulfuric acid and sodium nitrite results in elimination of the N‐amine and the formation of the new energetic anion 3,6‐dinitro‐[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐b][1,2,4]triazolate (DNTT) via nitro‐Sandmeyer chemistry. This new energetic anion is available in a convenient and inexpensive three‐step process from inexpensive commercial starting materials. Several nitrogen rich salts of this material have been prepared and their chemical (infrared, Raman, NMR, single‐crystal X‐ray) and energetic (impact, friction, thermal) properties determined. As a rule, this class of energetic salts are insensitive energetic materials.     

Investigation on the Sodium and Potassium Tetrasalts of 1,1,2,2‐Tetranitraminoethane

With respect to high‐energy dense materials with high oxygen‐content, the tetrasodium salt of 1,1,2,2‐tetranitraminoethane as monohydrate Na₄TNAE · H₂O ( 4 ) and the tetrapotassium salt as dihydrate K₄TNAE · 2H₂O ( 5 ) were synthesized and reported for the first time together with their crystal structures at 173 K. Whilst 4 cannot be dehydrated the crystal water content of 5 can be removed irreversibly at 160 °C to obtain K₄TNAE ( 6 ) as demonstrated by DTA and TGA measurements. K₄TNAE ( 6 ) was demonstrated using the small scale reactivity test to be a inferior explosive to RDX and CL‐20. However the anionic nitramine compound was measured to be less toxic against Vibrio fischeri than RDX (EC₅₀: 240 mg · L^–1) with respect to its EC₅₀ value above 15070 mg · L^–1. This demonstrates that the introduction of anionic nitramine moieties is a promising concept for the stabilization of energetic materials with lower toxicity.     

The Reagent‐depending Nitration of 1,3‐Dihydroxyacetone Dimer

Two highly energetic nitric acid esters were synthesized from the dimer of dihydroxyacetone. 1,3‐Dinitratoacetone ( 1 ) and its dimer 2,5‐bis(nitratomethyl‐2,5‐nitrato)‐1,4‐dioxane ( 2 ) were characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy (IR and Raman), multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The thermal behavior was investigated with DTA measurements. Although showing the same atomic stoichiometry, dimer 2 shows significantly higher sensitivities measured by BAM methods (drophammer and friction tester). Due to the high oxygen content of 62.2 %, 1 and 2 were evaluated as potential high energy dense oxidizers.     

Synthesis and Characterization of 3,3′‐Bis(Dinitromethyl)‐5,5′‐Azo‐1H‐1,2,4‐Triazole

The synthesis of 3,3′‐bis(dinitromethyl)‐5,5′‐azo‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 5 ) using the readily available starting material 2‐(5‐amino‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)acetic acid ( 1 ) is described. All compounds were characterized by means of NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopy. The energetic compound 5 was additionally characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and DSC measurements. The sensitivities towards impact, friction and electrical discharge were determined. In addition, detonation parameters (e.g. heat of explosion, detonation velocity) of the target compound were computed using the EXPLO5 code based on the calculated (CBS‐4M) heat of formation and X‐ray density.