Evaluation of electrostatic descriptors for predicting crystalline density

This study evaluates the importance of electrostatic corrections to earlier quantum‐mechanically based methods to predict crystal densities of neutral and ionic molecular energetic materials. Our previous methods (B. M. Rice et al., J. Phys. Chem. A 2007 , 111, 10874) use the molecular volumes of the isolated molecule or formula unit to estimate the crystal density; this volume is defined to be that inside the quantum‐mechanically determined 0.001 a.u. isosurface of electron density surrounding the isolated molecule. The electrostatic corrections to these volumetric estimates are based on features of the electrostatic potential mapped onto this isosurface of electron density, and have been parameterized using information from 180 neutral and 23 ionic CHNO molecular systems. The quality of the electrostatically corrected methods was assessed through application to 38 neutral and 48 ionic compounds not used in the parameterization. The root mean square (rms) percent deviation and average absolute error of predictions for the 38 neutral species relative to experiment are 2.7% and 0.035 g/cm³, respectively, decreases of 0.9% and 0.015 g/cm³ from the earlier predictions (3.6% and 0.050 g/cm³, respectively). The rms percent deviation and average absolute error of predictions for the 48 ionic compounds relative to experiment are 3.7% and 0.045 g/cm³, respectively, decreases of 2.6% and 0.043 g/cm³ from the earlier predictions that used the formula unit volumes only. The results clearly show a significant improvement to the earlier method upon inclusion of electrostatic corrections. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Theoretical Study of the Structure, Mechanism of Detonation Initiation and Stability of Transition Metal Carbohydrazide Nitrates

The geometric structure, mechanism of detonation initiation and stability of transition metal carbohydrazide （CHZ） nitrates are investigated via density functional theory. The obtained results show that the Heyd-Scuseria-Ernzerhof （HSE） functional yields the most accurate geometry. The initiating reaction of detonation in [Mn（CHZ）3]（NO3）2 and [Zn（CHZ）3]（NO3）2 is the formation of NO3 radicals. The calculated heat of formation and energy gap predict that the Mn and Zn complexes, which have the half-filled （3d5） and full-filled （3d10） electron configurations for the transition metal ions, respectively are more stable than the Co, Ni and Cu complexes. This indicates that the electron configuration of transition metal ion plays an important role in the stabilities of these energetic complexes.     

Energetic N‐Trinitroethyl‐Substituted Mono‐, Di‐, and Triaminotetrazoles

A series of dense energetic N‐trinitroethyl‐substituted mono‐, bis‐, and tri‐5‐aminotetrazoles were obtained by reacting primary amines with in situ generated cyanogen azide, followed by the trinitroethyl functionalization that involves a condensation of a hydroxymethyl intermediate (prepared by a reaction with formaldehyde) with trinitromethane. These compounds were fully characterized by using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, IR, elemental analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and, in one case with 9 , with single‐crystal XRD analysis. The heats of formation for all compounds were calculated with Gaussian 03 and then combined with experimental densities to determine the detonation pressures (P) and velocities (D_v) of the energetic materials. Interestingly, most of them exhibited high density, good thermal stability, acceptable oxygen balance, positive heat of formation, low impact sensitivity, and excellent detonation properties, which highlighted their practical application potentials as a fascinating class of highly energetic materials.     

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 of 5‐Aminotetrazole‐1 N‐oxide and Its Azo Derivative: A Key Step in the Development of New Energetic Materials

1‐Hydroxy‐5‐aminotetrazole ( 1 ), which is a long‐desired starting material for the synthesis of hundreds of new energetic materials, was synthesized for the first time by the reaction of aqueous hydroxylamine with cyanogen azide. The use of this unique precursor was demonstrated by the preparation of several energetic compounds with equal or higher performance than that of commonly used explosives, such as hexogen (RDX). The prepared compounds, including energetic salts of 1‐hydroxy‐5‐aminotetrazole (hydroxylammonium ( 2 , two polymorphs) and ammonium ( 3 )), azo‐coupled derivatives (potassium ( 5 ), hydroxylammonium ( 6 ), ammonium ( 7 ), and hydrazinium 5,5′‐azo‐bis(1‐N‐oxidotetrazolate ( 8 , two polymorphs)), as well as neutral compounds 5,5′‐azo‐bis(1‐oxidotetrazole) ( 4 ) and 5,5′‐bis(1‐oxidotetrazole)hydrazine ( 9 ), were intensively characterized by low‐temperature X‐ray diffraction, IR, Raman, and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and DSC. The calculated energetic performance, by using the EXPLO5 code, based on the calculated (CBS‐4M) heats of formation and X‐ray densities confirm the high energetic performance of tetrazole‐N‐oxides as energetic materials. Last but not least, their sensitivity towards impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge were explored. 5,5′‐Azo‐bis(1‐N‐oxidotetrazole) deflagrates close to the DDT (deflagration‐to‐detonation transition) faster than all compounds that have been investigated in our research group to date.     

Synthesis of 2-Azido-4-nitroimidazole and Its Derivatives for High-Energy Materials

2-Azido-4-nitroimidazole and its derivatives have been synthesized for energetic material applications. The synthesized compounds were fully characterized by 1H, 13C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Most of them were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The calculated densities of the compounds range between 1.71 and 1.92 g,cm-3. The calculated detonation pressures （P） for these derivatives fall in the range of 25.17 to 32.62 GPa and the detonation velocities （D） are distributed from 7.65 to 8.55 km·s-1.     

A Study of Cyanotetrazole Oxides and Derivatives thereof

In this work we report on the syntheses of energetic salts of cyanotetrazolate‐1‐ and ‐2‐oxides; this offers a unique ability to compare the effects of tetrazole 1‐ versus 2‐oxidation. 5‐Cyanotetrazolate‐2‐oxide can be synthesized by oxidation of the 5‐cyanotetrazolate anion with Oxone, while the corresponding 1‐oxide was synthesized by the rearrangement of azidoaminofurazan. Both chemical (multinuclear NMR, IR, and Raman spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, etc.) as well as explosive (impact, friction, and static sensitivities) properties are reported for these energetic salts. Calculated explosive performances using the EXPLO5 computer code are also reported. We furthermore detail the chemistry of these two anions, and their ability to form tetrazole‐carboxamides, dihydrotetrazines, and tetrazines. The ability to hydrolyze cyanotetrazole oxides to their amides was demonstrated by two copper complexes. Several crystal structures of these species are presented in addition to full chemical characterization. Finally, the unique 1,4,‐bis(2‐N‐oxidotetrazolate)‐1,2,4,5‐tetrazine anion was characterized as an energetic material as its ammonium salt.     

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.     

Studies on multistep thermal decomposition behavior of polytriazole polyethylene oxide‐tetrahydrofuran elastomer

Polytriazole polyethylene oxide‐tetrahydrofuran (PTPET) is an energetic propellant elastomer that is prepared using glycidyl azide polymer and trifunctional alkynyl‐terminated polyethylene oxide‐tetrahydrofuran. Its thermal decomposition, determined using thermogravimetic analysis, showed two mass‐loss peaks largely related to the decomposition of azide groups and the main chain. Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa and Kissinger‐Akahira‐Sunose methods were deployed to obtain kinetic triplet parameters of PTPET thermal decomposition by the traditional model‐free method; the Coats‐Redfern approach was used as the model‐fitting method. Kinetics analysis indicated that the mechanism of the two‐step reactions were the primary‐reaction of first order and the power‐law phase reaction of the 2/3 order. The first decomposition stage of PTPET had an activation energy (E_a) of 113 to 116 kJ/mol while the second was 196 to 210 kJ/mol. The thermal decomposition of PTPET with different heating rates and mechanisms showed good kinetic compensation effects, the gas products being further studied with TG‐FTIR.