1,2,4-Triazolium and Tetrazolium Picrate Salts: “On the Way” from Nitroaromatic to Azole-Based Energetic Materials

Mesoionic tetrazolium-5-aminides: Synthesis, molecular and crystal structures, UV-vis spectra, and DFT calculations

Tetrazolium-5-aminides have been prepared by the tert-butylation of 5-aminotetrazole and its N-methyl derivatives by the t-BuOH/HClO₄ system followed by the treatment of the tetrazolium salts by alkali. The mesoionic compounds have been found to show a higher reactivity of the exocyclic N atom in comparison with 5-aminotetrazoles. The compounds reacted with 1,2-dibromoethane and 5-(methylsulfonyl)-1-phenyl-1H-tetrazole with substitution of bromine and methylsulfonyl groups giving the corresponding tetrazolium salts or conjugate aminides. The obtained mesoionic tetrazoles have been characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, NMR, and UV–vis spectroscopy, TGA/DSC analysis and for 1,3-di-tert-butyltetrazolium-5-aminide, its N,N’-ethylene-bridged bis-derivative and (1,3-di-tert-butyl-1H-tetrazol-3-ium-5-yl)(1-phenyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)amide by single crystal X-ray analysis. The structural and spectral features of the tetrazolium-5-aminides are discussed by using quantum-chemical calculations.

Synthesis and properties of azamonocyclic energetic materials with geminal explosophores

Diversity-oriented synthesis of energetic pyrimidine structures with geminal explosophoric groups of geminal dinitro and azido-nitro groups via a novel reductive cleavage and oxidative coupling strategy is reported. Fluorine has also been introduced for the first time based on the nucleophilic coupling process. The obtained energetic pyrimidines are investigated via X-ray diffraction and theoretical techniques of electrostatic potential and proton affinity calculations. Both experimental and calculation results showed impressive detonation performances and good application prospects of the energetic pyrimidine structures. Among them, DNNC exhibited great promise as a green oxidant in solid propellant formulations to replace ammonium perchlorate (AP). TNHA (ρ = 1.79 g cm-3, D = 8537 m s-1, P = 32.69 Gpa) and TNHF (ρ = 1.85 g cm-3, D = 8517 m s-1, P = 32.64 Gpa) proved to be ideal candidates for high explosives due to their high densities and detonation properties. Moreover, TNHA could also be applied as a potential underwater explosive owing to its great heat of formation.

Thermochemistry and Initial Decomposition Pathways of Triazole Energetic Materials

A thorough investigation of the initial decomposition pathways of triazoles and their nitro-substituted derivatives has been conducted using the MP2 method for optimization and DLPNO-CCSD(T) method for energy. Different initial thermolysis mechanisms are proposed for 1,2,4-triazole and 1,2,3-triazole, the two kinds of triazoles. The higher energy barrier of the primary decomposition path of 1,2,4-triazole (H-transfer path, ∼52 kcal/mol) compared with that of 1,2,3-triazole (ring-open path, ∼45 kcal/mol) shows that 1,2,4-triazole is more stable, consistent with experimental observations. For nitro-substituted triazoles, more dissociation channels associated with the nitro group have been obtained and found to be competitive with the primary decomposition paths of the triazole skeleton in some cases. Besides, the effect of the nitro group on the decomposition pattern of the triazole skeleton has been explored, and it has been found that the electron-withdrawing nitro group has an opposite effect on the primary dissociation channels of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives and 1,2,3-triazole derivatives.

Design, synthesis and investigations of a series of energetic salts through the variation of amines and concentration of picrate anions

Eight energetic salts combining N-bases with picrate ion were synthesized in high yields. The structures and energetic properties were regulated by the variation of N-base molecules and the concentration of the picric acid in the reaction mixture.

Design of new energetic materials based on derivatives of 1,3,5-trinitrobenzenes: A theoretical and computational prediction of detonation properties, blast impulse and combustion parameters

This paper reports the design of some of the new ionic based high energy materials derived from the anion of picric acid (2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-1-ol), styphnic acid (2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-1,3-diol) and 2,4,6-trinitrophloroglucinol (2,4,6-trinitrobenzene-1,3,5-triol) and cation derived from the key synthon molecules such as 5-trifluoromethyl-1H-tetrazole, 5-dinitromethyl-1H-tetrazole and 5-azido-1H–tetrazole-1-carbonitrile. The detonation properties of these newly proposed compounds are predicted by using software such as EXPLO-5, EXTEC and LOTUSES and Keshvarz method. Moreover, other explosive parameters such as density, gurney velocity, and oxygen balance and decomposition products of the newly designed molecules have also been predicted and reported for the first time in this manuscript. The predicted detonation parameters of some of the newly designed compounds exhibit higher velocity of detonation (VOD) and detonation pressure in comparison to other well-known benchmark explosives such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX). Further, the peak over pressure (POP) and the blast impulse parameters of the newly designed compounds are predicted by using Shock physics explicit eulerian dynamics (SPEED) software, and the same is reported for the first time in this work. The work also reports the theoretical prediction of impact and electrostatic spark sensitivity parameters for the newly designed molecules. The ballistic performance parameters of the newly designed ionic energetic materials are also predicted by incorporating them into model composite rocket propellant formulations. The predicted ballistic parameters indicate that the proposed materials may find an application in the propellant formulation as an energetic additive.

2-Methyl-substituted monotetrazoles in copper(ii) perchlorate complexes: manipulating coordination chemistry and derived energetic properties

Several new energetic coordination compounds (ECC) have been prepared using two 2-methyl-substituted tetrazoles. By simply changing the reaction conditions, the coordination sphere of the metal center can be manipulated in order to obtain different complexes with varying energetic properties.

1,2,4-Oxadiazole-derived polynitro energetic compounds with sensitivity reduced by a methylene bridge

This is a new family of energetic compounds combining a high-energy polynitro group with an insensitive methylene linkage and thermostable 1,2,4-oxadiazole skeleton.

Estimating the densities of benzene-derived explosives using atomic volumes

The application of average atomic volumes to predict the crystal densities of benzene-derived energetic compounds of general formula C _a H _b N _c O _d is presented, along with the reliability of this method. The densities of 119 neutral nitrobenzenes, energetic salts, and cocrystals with diverse compositions were estimated and compared with experimental data. Of the 74 nitrobenzenes for which direct comparisons could be made, the % error in the estimated density was within 0-3% for 54 compounds, 3-5% for 12 compounds, and 5-8% for the remaining 8 compounds. Among 45 energetic salts and cocrystals, the % error in the estimated density was within 0-3% for 25 compounds, 3-5% for 13 compounds, and 5-7.4% for 7 compounds. The absolute error surpassed 0.05 g/cm³ for 27 of the 119 compounds (22%). The largest errors occurred for compounds containing fused rings and for compounds with three -NH₂ or -OH groups. Overall, the present approach for estimating the densities of benzene-derived explosives with different functional groups was found to be reliable. Graphical abstract Application and reliability of average atom volume in the crystal density prediction of energetic compounds containing benzene ring.

The energetic 3-trinitromethyl-5-nitramino-1H-1,2,4-triazole and nitrogen-rich salts

An oxygen- and nitrogen-rich energetic triazole as an excellent example with outstanding performance but high sensitivity, which can be adjusted by the formation of nitrogen-rich salts.

Positive and negative linear compressibility and electronic properties of energetic and porous hybrid crystals with nitrate anions

Within the framework of DFT-D calculations, the compressibility anisotropy of UN and DATN energetic nitrates and the Ag(en)N hybrid crystal is established.

Replacement of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene by two eutectics formed between 4-amino-1,2,4-triazolium nitrate and 4-amino-1,2,4-triazolium perchlorate

Mixtures of 4-ATN and 4-ATP were submitted to DSC and a binary phase diagram was constructed by using DSC data.

Synthesis and characterization of a new family of energetic salts based on a guanidinium cation containing a picryl moiety

A series of energetic salts based on a guanidinium cation containing a picryl moiety was successfully synthesized and characterized.

Energetic salts prepared from phenolate derivatives

Energetic salts with 1 : 1, 2 : 1, and 3 : 1 charge ratios (cation : anion) based on various nitrogen-rich cations and phenolate anions have been synthesized by a straightforward and simple method.

Theoretical studies of energetic nitrogen-rich ionic salts composed of substituted 5-nitroiminotetrazolate anions and various cations

We have performed density functional theory and volume-based thermodynamics calculations to study the effects of different combinations of energetic anions and cations on the crystal densities, heats of formation, energetic properties, and thermodynamics of formation for a series of 5-nitroiminotetrazolate-based ionic salts. The results show that the substitution of the -NO2, -NF2, -N3, or -C(NO2)3 group is helpful for increasing the densities of the salts. Incorporating every substituent (-NH2, -NO2, -NF2, -N3, or -C(NO2)3) into the salt is favorable for improving its HOF and detonation performance. Incorporating the cation B1, B2, B10, or B11 into the salts is helpful for improving its detonation properties. Increasing negative charge for the 5-nitroiminotetrazolate-based salts is unfavorable for enhancing the density and detonation performance, but is helpful for increasing the HOFs. Many salts present comparable detonation performance with commonly used explosives RDX or HMX. Among them, 21 salts have near or better properties than HMX. The thermodynamics of formation of the salts show that the majority of the 5-nitroiminotetrazolate salts with the cation B1, B3, B9, B10, B12 could be synthesized by the proposed reactions.

4-Benzyl-3-[(1-oxidoethylidene)amino]-1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-iminium

The title compound, C₁₇H₁₇N₅O, exists in the zwitterionic form with the amide group deprotonated. The mean planes of the 1,2,4-triazole and N-phenyl rings form a dihedral angle of 39.14 (8)°. The N atom of the amino group adopts a trigonal configuration. Inter­moleculat C—H⋯O and C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds occur. In the crystal, mol­ecules are linked into a two-dimensional network parallel to (10) by N—H⋯O and N—H⋯N hydrogen bonds. C—H⋯N contacts are also observed.

Two-dimensional networks in 2-methylanilinium picrate and 2,5-dichloroanilinium picrate

Both the title molecular adducts of 2-methylaniline or 2,5-dichloroaniline with picric acid are 1:1 organic salts, namely 2-methylanilinium picrate, C(7)H(10)N(+) x C(6)H(2)N(3)O(7)(-), (I), and 2,5-dichloroanilinium picrate, C(6)H(6)Cl(2)N(+) x C(6)H(2)N(3)O(7)(-), (II). In both structures, the phenoxide O atoms accept two N-H hydrogen bonds in a bifurcated acceptor fashion, which link the component ions by N-H...O hydrogen bonds into continuous two-dimensional zigzag layers, running parallel to the (100) plane in (I) and the (010) plane in (II). A pi-pi interaction is observed between symmetry-related anilinium cations in (I), while in (II), Cl...O(nitro) and Cl...Cl interactions are observed. This study indicates that a substitution on aniline can exert a pivotal influence on the construction of its supramolecular structure.