Lithium Nitropyrazolates as Potential Red Pyrotechnic Colorants

catena-Poly[[bis-(di-aqua-lithium)]-μ4-3,3',5,5'-tetra-nitro-4,4'-bi-pyrazole-1,1'-diido]: a new moisture-insensitive alkali-metal energetic salt with a well-defined network structure

In the structure of the title salt, [Li2(C6N8O8)(H2O)4]n, the 3,3',5,5'-tetra-nitro-4,4'-bi-pyrazole-1,1'-diide dianion [{TNBPz}2-] is situated across the twofold axis. The distorted coordination octa-hedra around Li+ involve four short bonds with two pyrazolate N atoms and two aqua ligands [Li-N(O) = 1.999 (3)-2.090 (2) Å] and two longer contacts with nitro-O atoms [2.550 (2), 2.636 (2) Å]. When combined with μ4-{TNBPz}2-, this generates a mono-periodic polymeric structure incorporating discrete centrosymmeric [(H2O)2Li-(di-nitro-pyrazolato)2-Li(H2O)2] units. The three-dimensional stack of mutually orthogonal coordination chains is reminiscent of a Lincoln log pattern. It is influenced by conventional hydrogen bonding [O⋯O = 2.8555 (17)-3.0010 (15) Å] and multiple lone pair-π hole inter-actions of the nitro groups [N⋯O = 3.0349 (15) and 3.0887 (15) Å]. The Hirshfeld surface and two-dimensional fingerprint plots also support the significance of non-covalent bonding. Coordinative saturation and a favorable geometry at the Li+ ions, dense packing of the polymeric subconnectivities and particularly extensive inter-anion inter-actions may be involved in the stabilization of the structure. The title salt is a rare example of an energetic Li nitro-azolate, which nicely crystallizes from aqueous solution and is neither hygroscopic nor efflorescent. The TG/DTA data reveal total dehydration in the range of 330-430 K and stability of the anhydrous material up to 633-653 K.

Access to Green Pyrotechnic Compositions via Constructing Coordination Polymers: A New Approach to the Application of 3,4-Dinitropyrazole

Alkali and alkaline-earth metal salts with 3,4-dinitropyrazole (DNP) were synthesized by the reaction of DNP with stoichiometric amounts of the corresponding metal hydroxide-, oxide-, or carbonate-based highly pure salts, and products were fully characterized. Determination of single-crystal structures of all new complexes except for the lithium and strontium salts was performed by X-ray diffraction techniques. The cesium salt crystallized no water among them. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) manifested that these salts have satisfactory thermal stabilities with decomposition temperatures above 210 °C. They also showed that there exists strong bonding of crystallized water among lattices, which disappeared at temperatures equal to or above 115 °C except for salts MES-3, MES-4, and MES-9. In addition, the percentage of water contents was confirmed by using DSC and TGA methods. The constant-volume combustion heats of these metal salts containing DNP anions were measured using an oxygen bomb calorimeter due to their expectant interest in energetic materials, and their standard molar formation enthalpies were obtained. The investigated salts were found to be insensitive toward friction and impact. Findings of burning tests performed with experimental formulations using MES-1, MES-7, MES-8, and MES-9 certify that these four salts might be more promising candidates for application in green pyrotechnics.