A Study of 5‐(1,2,4‐Triazol‐C‐yl)tetrazol‐1‐ols: Combining the Benefits of Different Heterocycles for the Design of Energetic Materials

The synthesis and full structural and spectroscopic characterization of three 5‐(1,2,4‐triazol‐C‐yl)tetrazol‐1‐ol compounds with selected energetic moieties including nitrimino ( 5 ), nitro ( 6 ) and azido ( 7 ) groups are reported. The influence of those energetic moieties as well as the C? C connection of a tetrazol‐1‐ol and a 1,2,4‐triazole on structural and energetic properties has been investigated. All compounds were well characterized by various means, including IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and DSC. The molecular structures of 5 – 8 were determined in the solid state by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The standard heats of formation were calculated on the CBS‐4M level of theory utilizing the atomization energy method, revealing highly positive values for all compounds. The detonation parameters were calculated with the EXPLO5 program and compared to the common secondary explosive RDX. Additionally, sensitivities towards impact, friction and electrostatic discharge were determined.     

4‐Nitro‐3‐(5‐tetrazole)furoxan and Its Salts: Synthesis,Characterization, and Energetic Properties

A series of new energetic salts based on 4‐nitro‐3‐(5‐tetrazole)furoxan (HTNF) has been synthesized. All of the salts have been fully characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H and ¹³C), infrared (IR) spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystal structures of neutral HTNF ( 3 ) and its ammonium ( 4 ) and N‐carbamoylguanidinium salts ( 9 ) have been determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The densities of 3 and its nine salts were found to range from 1.63 to 1.84 g cm^?3. Impact sensitivities have been determined by hammer tests, and the results ranged from 2 J (very sensitive) to >40 J (insensitive). Theoretical performance calculations (Gaussian 03 and EXPLO 5.05) provided detonation pressures and velocities for the ionic compounds 4 – 12 in the ranges 25.5–36.2 GPa and 7934–8919 m s^?1, respectively, which make them competitive energetic materials.     

Synthesis and Characterization of 5‐(1,2,4‐Triazol‐3‐yl)tetrazoles with Various Energetic Functionalities

In this contribution the synthesis and full structural as well as spectroscopic characterization of three 5‐(1,2,4‐triazol‐3‐yl)tetrazoles along with selected energetic moieties like nitro, nitrimino, and azido groups are presented. The main goal is a comparative study on the influence of those variable energetic moieties on structural and energetic properties. A complete characterization including IR and Raman as well as multinuclear NMR spectroscopy of all compounds is presented. Additionally, X‐ray crystallographic measurements were performed and reveal insights into structural characteristics as well as inter‐ and intramolecular interactions. The standard enthalpies of formation were calculated for all compounds at the CBS‐4M level of theory and reveal high positive heats of formation for all compounds. The calculated detonation parameters (using the EXPLO5.05 program) are in the range of 8000 m s^?1 (8097 m s^?1 ( 5 ), 8020 m s^?1 ( 6 ), 7874 m s^?1 ( 7 )). As expected, the measured impact and friction sensitivities as well as decomposition temperatures strongly depend on the energetic moiety at the triazole ring. The C? C connection of a triazole ring with its opportunity to introduce a large variety of energetic moieties and a tetrazole ring, implying a large energy content, leads to the selective synthesis of primary and secondary explosives.     

New Energetic Materials: Functionalized 1‐Ethyl‐5‐aminotetrazoles and 1‐Ethyl‐5‐nitriminotetrazoles

A new way to make a bang : Several functionalized 1‐ethyl‐5‐aminotetrazoles, 1‐ethyl‐5‐nitrimino‐tetrazoles, and copper complexes have been synthesized and their chemical and energetic properties have been comprehensively characterized. The compounds belong to all classes of “energetic materials”: explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics.

     

1,2,4‐Triazole Links and N‐Azo Bridges Yield Energetic Compounds

Triazole links and polynitropyrazole rings give rise to compounds with energetic properties. These materials were fully characterized by NMR and infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the structures of compounds 5 and 8 were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Detonation properties, calculated from heats of formation and experimental densities, thermal stabilities, and impact and friction sensitivities support the potential use of these materials for explosive applications.     

Combination of 1,2,4‐Oxadiazole and 1,2,5‐Oxadiazole Moieties for the Generation of High‐Performance Energetic Materials

Salts generated from linked 1,2,4‐oxadiazole/1,2,5‐oxadiazole precursors exhibit good to excellent thermal stability, density, and, in some cases, energetic performance. The design of these compounds was based on the assumption that by the combination of varying oxadiazole rings, it would be possible to profit from the positive aspects of each of the components. All of the new compounds were fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, ¹H, ¹³C, and (in some cases) ¹⁵N NMR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis (DSC). The structures of 2 – 3 and 5 ‐ 1 ?5 H₂O were confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Theoretical performance calculations were carried out by using Gaussian 03 (Revision D.01). Compound 2 ‐ 3 , with its good density (1.85 g cm^?3), acceptable sensitivity (14 J, 160 N), and superior detonation pressure (37.4 GPa) and velocity (9046 m s^?1), exhibits performance properties superior to those of 1,3,5‐trinitroperhydro‐1,3,5‐triazine (RDX).     

The Chemistry of 5‐(Tetrazol‐1‐yl)‐2H‐tetrazole: An Extensive Study of Structural and Energetic Properties

5‐(Tetrazol‐1‐yl)‐2H‐tetrazole ( 1 ), or 1,5′‐bistetrazole, was synthesized by the cyclization of 5‐amino‐1H‐tetrazole, sodium azide and triethyl orthoformate in glacial acetic acid. A derivative of 1 , 2‐methyl‐5‐(tetrazol‐1‐yl)tetrazole ( 2 ) can be obtained by this method starting from 5‐amino‐2‐methyl‐tetrazole. Furthermore, selected salts of 1 with nitrogen‐rich and metal (alkali and transition metal) cations, including hydroxylammonium ( 4 ), triaminoguanidinium ( 5 ), copper(I) ( 8 ) and silver ( 9 ), as well as copper(II) complexes of both 1 and 2 were prepared. An intensive characterization of the compounds is given, including vibrational (IR, Raman) and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, DSC and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Their sensitivities towards physical stimuli (impact, friction, electrostatic) were determined according to Bundesamt für Materialforschung (BAM) standard methods. Energetic performance (detonation velocity, pressure, etc.) parameters were calculated with the EXPLO5 program, based on predicted heats of formation derived from enthalpies computed at the CBS‐4M level of theory and utilizing the atomization energy method. From the analytical and calculated data, their potential as energetic materials in different applications was evaluated and discussed.     

The Many Faces of FOX‐7: A Precursor to High‐Performance Energetic Materials

New derivatives of 1,1‐diamino‐2, 2‐dinitroethene (FOX‐7) are reported. These highly oxygen‐ and nitrogen‐rich compounds were fully characterized using IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis (EA), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). X‐ray structure determination of (E)‐1,2‐bis{(E)‐2‐chloro‐1‐(chloroimino)‐2,2‐dinitroethyl}diazene) ( 10 ), N1, N2‐dichloro‐1, 2‐diazenedicarboximidamide ( 11 ), and (E,E)‐N,N′‐1,2‐ethanediylidenebis(2, 2‐dinitro‐2‐chloro‐ethanamine) ( 12 ) was helpful in their characterization. Heats of formation (HOF) were calculated (Gaussian 03) and combined with experimental densities to estimate the detonation velocities (D) and pressures (P) of the high‐energy‐density materials (HEDMs) (EXPLO5, v6.01). The compounds exhibit good thermal stability, high density, positive HOF, acceptable oxygen balances, and excellent detonation properties, which often are superior to that of 1,3,5‐trinitroperhydro‐1,3,5‐triazine (RDX).     

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.     

Nitrogen‐Rich Bis‐1,2,4‐triazoles—A Comparative Study of Structural and Energetic Properties

In this contribution, the synthesis and full structural and spectroscopic characterization of five bis‐1,2,4‐triazoles in combination with different energetic moieties like amino, nitro, nitrimino, azido, and dinitromethylene groups is presented. The main goal is a comparative study on the influence of those energetic moieties on the structural and energetic properties. A complete characterization including IR, Raman, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy of all compounds is presented. Additionally, X‐ray crystallographic measurements were performed and deliver insight into structural characteristics as well as inter‐ and intramolecular interactions. The standard enthalpies of formation were calculated for all compounds at the CBS‐4M level of theory, the detonation parameters were calculated by using the EXPLO5.05 program. Additionally, the impact as well as the friction sensitivities and the sensitivity against electrostatic discharge were determined. The potential application of the synthesized compounds as energetic material will be studied and evaluated by using the experimentally obtained values for the thermal decomposition, the sensitivity data, and the calculated performance characteristics.     

Bis(nitroamino‐1,2,4‐triazolates): N‐Bridging Strategy Toward Insensitive Energetic Materials

Modern energetic motifs for military and civilian applications are most often evaluated using various criteria, for example, energetic properties, production costs, and safety issues. Given this background, the design of energetic materials requires a deep understanding of both detonation performance and molecular stability. Here a new family of energetic bis(nitroamino‐1,2,4‐triazolates), which exhibit good thermal stabilities, excellent detonation properties, and low sensitivities, has been designed. Furthermore, two hydroxylammonium bis(azolates) with pyrazole and tetrazole backbones were synthesized, and they exhibit energetic properties analogous to the triazoles. This work highlights the application potential of N‐bridged bis(azolates) as promising energetic materials.     

Nitrogen‐Rich 5,5′‐Bistetrazolates and their Potential Use in Propellant Systems: A Comprehensive Study

A large variety of twice‐deprotonated nitrogen‐rich 5,5′‐bistetrazolates, that is, the ammonium ( 1 ), hydrazinium ( 2 ), hydroxylammonium ( 3 ), guanidinium ( 4 ), aminoguanidinium ( 5 ), diaminoguanidinium ( 6 ), triaminoguanidinium ( 7 ), and diaminouronium ( 8 ) salts, have been synthesized. Energetic compounds 1 – 8 were fully characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (except 8 ), NMR spectroscopy, IR and Raman spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements. With respect to their potential use in propellant applications, the sensitivity towards impact, friction, and electrical discharge were determined. Several propulsion and detonation parameters (e.g., heat of explosion, detonation velocity) were computed by using the EXPLO5 computer code based on calculated (CBS‐4M) heats of formation and X‐ray densities. Additionally, the performance of 1 – 8 in various formulations was investigated by calculating the specific energy and specific impulse of the compounds under isochoric conditions.     

Synthesis and Promising Properties of a New Family of High‐Nitrogen Compounds: Polyazido‐ and Polyamino‐Substituted N,N′‐Azo‐1,2,4‐triazoles

A new family of high‐nitrogen compounds, that is, polyazido‐ and polyamino‐substituted N,N′‐azo‐1,2,4‐triazoles, were synthesized in a safe and convenient manner and fully characterized. The structures of 3,3′,5,5′‐tetra(azido)‐4,4′‐azo‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 15 ) and 3,3′,5,5′‐tetra(amino)‐4,4′‐azo‐1,2,4‐triazole ( 23 ) were also confirmed by X‐ray diffraction. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was performed to determine their thermal stability. Their heats of formation and density, which were calculated by using Gaussian 03, were used to determine the detonation performances of the related compounds (EXPLO 5.05). The heats of formation of the polyazido compounds were also derived by using an additive method. Compound 15 has the highest heat of formation (6933 kJ kg^?1) reported so far for energetic compounds and a detonation performance that is comparable to that of octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine (HMX), while compound 23 has a decomposition temperature of up to 290 °C.     

N‐Nitrosarcosine: An Economic Precursor for the Synthesis of New Energetic Materials

New energetic compounds have been synthesized starting from the readily available N‐(cyanomethyl)‐N‐methylamine. From this, N‐nitrosarcosine was prepared in few steps, which serves as a starting material for the synthesis of oxygen‐rich compounds. The compounds were thoroughly characterized including multinuclear NMR and vibrational spectroscopy and also molecular structures by single X‐ray diffraction were obtained. Their energetic properties were determined including the sensitivities towards impact and friction, their heat of formations were calculated and the detonation and combustion parameters were predicted using EXPLO5 V6.02.     

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.     

Furazans with Azo Linkages: Stable CHNO Energetic Materials with High Densities,Highly Energetic Performance,and Low Impact and Friction Sensitivities

Various highly energetic azofurazan derivatives were synthesized by simple and efficient chemical routes. These nitrogen‐rich materials were fully characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, and high‐resolution mass spectrometry. Four of them were further confirmed structurally by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. These compounds exhibit high densities, ranging from 1.62 g cm^?3 up to a remarkably high 2.12 g cm^?3 for nitramine‐substituted azofurazan DDAzF ( 2 ), which is the highest yet reported for an azofurazan‐based CHNO energetic compound and is a consequence of the formation of strong intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding networks. From the heats of formation, calculated with Gaussian 09, and the experimentally determined densities, the energetic performances (detonation pressure and velocities) of the materials were ascertained with EXPLO5 v6.02. The results suggest that azofurazan derivatives exhibit excellent detonation properties (detonation pressures of 21.8–46.1 GPa and detonation velocities of 6602–10 114 m s^?1) and relatively low impact and friction sensitivities (6.0–80 J and 80–360 N, respectively). In particular, they have low electrostatic spark sensitivities (0.13–1.05 J). These properties, together with their high nitrogen contents, make them potential candidates as mechanically insensitive energetic materials with high‐explosive performance.     

N‐Oxide 1,2,4,5‐Tetrazine‐Based High‐Performance Energetic Materials

One route to high density and high performance energetic materials based on 1,2,4,5‐tetrazine is the introduction of 2,4‐di‐N‐oxide functionalities. Based on several examples and through theoretical analysis, the strategy of regioselective introduction of these moieties into 1,2,4,5‐tetrazines has been developed. Using this methodology, various new tetrazine structures containing the N‐oxide functionality were synthesized and fully characterized using IR, NMR, and mass spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis. Hydrogen peroxide (50 %) was used very effectively in lieu of the usual 90 % peroxide in this system to generate N‐oxide tetrazine compounds successfully. Comparison of the experimental densities of N‐oxide 1,2,4,5‐tetrazine compounds with their 1,2,4,5‐tetrazine precursors shows that introducing the N‐oxide functionality is a highly effective and feasible method to enhance the density of these materials. The heats of formation for all compounds were calculated with Gaussian 03 (revision D.01) and these values were combined with measured densities to calculate detonation pressures (P) and velocities (ν_D) of these energetic materials (Explo 5.0 v. 6.01). The new oxygen‐containing tetrazines exhibit high density, good thermal stability, acceptable oxygen balance, positive heat of formation, and excellent detonation properties, which, in some cases, are superior to those of 1,3,5‐tritnitrotoluene (TNT), 1,3,5‐trinitrotriazacyclohexane (RDX), and octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine (HMX).     

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.