Theoretical studies on the structures, heats of formation, energetic properties and pyrolysis mechanisms of nitrogen-rich difurazano[3,4-b:3′,4′-e]piperazine derivatives and their analogues

Combination multi-nitrogen with high heat of formation: theoretical studies on the performance of bridged 1,2,4,5-tetrazine derivatives

A series of bridged tetrazine derivatives (BDDT) were designed by using different bridges to connect two molecules of 1,2,4, 5-tetrazine oxides and then combining different substituents. At the same time, we used DFT-wB97/6-31 + G** method to regularly predict the HOMO-LUMO, heats of formation (HOF), detonation properties, thermal stability, and thermodynamic property orbitals of BDDT compounds. By studying the comprehensive relationship between different substituents and bridging and performance, it is shown that -N(NO₂)₂ and -C(NO₂)₃ are not only excellent groups to improve the heat of formation and detonation properties, but also can cause the compound to have a superior oxygen balance. And that the incorporation of the -N = N- and -NH-N = N- is helpful to enhance their thermal stabilities and HOF. -CH₂-CH₂- and -CH₂-NH- are good for improving the HOMO-LUMO energy gaps. Performances with positive HOF (1170-1590 kJ mol^-1), remarkable density (1.88-1.93 g cm^-3), outstanding detonation properties (D = 9.15-9.80 km s^-1, P = 38.24-44.40 GPa), and acceptable impact sensitivity lead C5, D8, E5, E7, F5, and F7 to be the potential candidates of HEDMs.

Computational Design of High Energy RDX-Based Derivatives: Property Prediction, Intermolecular Interactions, and Decomposition Mechanisms

A series of new high-energy insensitive compounds were designed based on 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX) skeleton through incorporating -N(NO₂)-CH₂-N(NO₂)-, -N(NH₂)-, -N(NO₂)-, and -O- linkages. Then, their electronic structures, heats of formation, detonation properties, and impact sensitivities were analyzed and predicted using DFT. The types of intermolecular interactions between their bimolecular assemble were analyzed. The thermal decomposition of one compound with excellent performance was studied through ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. All the designed compounds exhibit excellent detonation properties superior to 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20), and lower impact sensitivity than CL-20. Thus, they may be viewed as promising candidates for high energy density compounds. Overall, our design strategy that the construction of bicyclic or cage compounds based on the RDX framework through incorporating the intermolecular linkages is very beneficial for developing novel energetic compounds with excellent detonation performance and low sensitivity.

Screening for energetic compounds based on 1,3-dinitrohexahydropyrimidine skeleton and 5-various explosopheres: molecular design and computational study

In this paper, twelve 1,3-dinitrohexahydropyrimidine-based energetic compounds were designed by introducing various explosopheres into hexahydropyrimidine skeleton. Their geometric and electronic structures, heats of formation (HOFs), energetic performance, thermal stability and impact sensitivity were discussed. It is found that the incorporation of electron-withdrawing groups (-NO2, -NHNO2, -N3, -CH(NO2)2, -CF(NO2)2, -C(NO2)3) improves HOFs of the derivatives and all the substituents contribute to enhancing the densities and detonation properties (D, P) of the title compounds. Therein, the substitution of -C(NO2)3 features the best energetic performance with detonation velocity of 9.40 km s-1 and detonation pressure of 40.20 GPa. An analysis of the bond dissociation energies suggests that N-NO2 bond may be the initial site in the thermal decompositions for most of the derivatives. Besides, -ONO2 and -NF2 derivatives stand out with lower impact sensitivity. Characters with striking detonation properties (D = 8.62 km s-1, P = 35.08 GPa; D = 8.81 km s-1, P = 34.88 GPa), good thermal stability, and acceptable impact sensitivity (characteristic height H50 over 34 cm) lead novel compounds 5,5-difluoramine-1,3-dinitrohexahydropyrimidine (K) and 5-fluoro-1,3,5-trinitrohexahydropyrimidine (L) to be very promising energetic materials. This work provides the theoretical molecular design and a reasonable synthetic route of L for further experimental synthesis and testing.

Theoretical studies on oxadiazole-based layer stacking nitrogen-rich high-performance insensitive energetic materials

A series of energetic compounds derived from substituted oxadiazole molecules which were theoretically proved to have π-π stacking crystal structure using NIC method and QTAIM theory were designed and investigated theoretically as novel high-performance insensitive energetic materials. The heats of formation (HOFs) and detonation parameters were predicted based on Kamlet-Jacobs equations and Born-Haber cycle. All energetic compounds and derivatives were calculated at DFT-B3PW91/6-31G++(d,p) level and exhibited ideal oxygen balance (OB%) (- 19.50~15.68), positive heats of formation (424.0~957.4 kJ/mol), and pleasant crystal density (1.707~1.901 g/cm³). The predicted results revealed that detonation performances of some designed molecules are equal to traditional energetic materials while they are more stable and insensitive that can be considered to have potential synthesis and application value. Graphical abstract BRIEFS Three energetic molecules that proved may have a π-π stacking crystal structure and its derivatives were designed and investigated theoretical as novel high-performance insensitive energetic materials. The most of compounds exhibited positive solid phase heat of formation, idea oxygen balance and structural stability.

Theoretical design of bis-azole derivatives for energetic compounds

Bis-azole derivatives are a new class of energetic materials with features that include high nitrogen content, high heat of formation (HOF), high detonation performance and insensitivity to external stimuli. In this paper, 599 new bis-azole compounds were designed in a high-throughput fashion using bis-azole molecules of high density and high thermal decomposition temperature as the basic structure, and high energy groups such as nitro (–NO₂) and amino groups (–NH₂) as substituents. The molecular geometry optimization and vibration frequency analysis were performed using the DFT-B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) method. The calculation results show that none of bis-azole derivatives exhibit a virtual frequency. Additionally, the density, heat of formation and characteristic height (h₅₀) of the above compounds were obtained. Detonation performances were predicted by the Kamlet–Jacobs equations, and their structures and performances were studied. Furthermore, correlations between the performance parameters and the parent structure of the molecule, the number of substituting group and configuration were summarized, revealing promising potential candidates for high-energy density materials (HEDMs).

Bis-azole derivatives are a new class of energetic materials with features that include high nitrogen content, high heat of formation (HOF), high detonation performance and insensitivity to external stimuli.

Energetic N-azidomethyl derivatives of polynitro hexaazaisowurtzitanes series: CL-20 analogues having the highest enthalpy

Novel energetic components for rocket propellants, based on polynitro hexaazaisowurtzitanes, have been prepared with high enthalpies of formation that significantly exceed that of CL-20.

Molecular design on a new family of azaoxaadamantane cage compounds as potential high-energy density compounds

A new family of azaoxaadamantane cage compounds were firstly designed by introducing the oxygen atom into hexanitrohexaazaoxaadmantane (HNHAA) to replace the N–NO2 group. Their properties including heats of formation (HOFs), detonation properties, strain energies, thermal stability, and sensitivity were extensively studied by using density functional theory. All of the title compounds exhibit surprisingly high density (ρ > 2.01 g/cm3) and excellent detonation properties (detonation velocity (D) > 9.29 km/s and detonation pressure (P) > 40.80 GPa). In particular, B (4,8,9,10-tetraazadioxaadamantane) and C (6,8,9,10-tetraazadioxaadamantane) have a remarkably high D and P values (9.70 km/s and 44.45 GPa, respectively), which are higher than that of HNHAA or CL-20. All of the title compound have higher thermal stability and lower sensitivity (h50 > 19.58 cm) compared with the parent compound HNHAA. Three triazatrioxaadamantane cage compounds, D (6,8,9-triazatrioxaadamantane), E (6,8,10-triazatrioxaadamantane), and F (8,9,10-triazatrioxaadamantane), are expected to be relatively insensitive explosives. All of the title compounds exhibit a combination of high denotation properties, good thermal stability, and low insensitivity.

The effect of nitro groups on N2 extrusion from aromatic azide-based energetic materials

ortho nitroaromatic azides extrude N₂ through cyclization to a benzofuroxan derivative. DFT calculations show that steric and electronic factors influence the activation barriers for extrusion in energetic materials.

Trigger bond analysis of nitroaromatic energetic materials using wiberg bond indices

The identification of trigger bonds, bonds that break to initiate explosive decomposition, using computational methods could help direct the development of novel, "green" and efficient high energy density materials (HEDMs). Comparing bond densities in energetic materials to reference molecules using Wiberg bond indices (WBIs) provides a relative scale for bond activation (%ΔWBIs) to assign trigger bonds in a set of 63 nitroaromatic conventional energetic molecules. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions enhance contributions of resonance structures that strengthen, or deactivate, the CNO₂ trigger bonds and reduce the sensitivity of nitroaniline-based HEDMs. In contrast, unidirectional hydrogen bonding in nitrophenols strengthens the bond to the hydrogen bond acceptor, but the phenol lone pairs repel and activate an adjacent nitro group. Steric effects, electron withdrawing groups and greater nitro dihedral angles also activate the CNO₂ trigger bonds. %ΔWBIs indicate that nitro groups within an energetic molecule are not all necessarily equally activated to contribute to initiation. %ΔWBIs generally correlate well with impact sensitivity, especially for HEDMs with intramolecular hydrogen bonding, and are a better measure of trigger bond strength than bond dissociation energies (BDEs). However, the method is less effective for HEDMs with significant secondary effects in the solid state. Assignment of trigger bonds using %ΔWBIs could contribute to understanding the effect of intramolecular interactions on energetic properties. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Designing and looking for novel cage compounds based on bicyclo-HMX as high energy density compounds

We designed four cage compounds by introducing intramolecular linkages into the bicyclo-HMX framework. Their molecular and electronic structures, energetic properties, thermal stability, and impact sensitivity were evaluated using DFT.

Theoretical Design on a Series of Novel Bicyclic and Cage Nitramines as High Energy Density Compounds

We designed four bicyclic nitramines and three cage nitramines by incorporating -N(NO₂)-CH₂-N(NO₂)-, -N(NO₂)-, and -O- linkages based on the HMX (1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane) framework. Then, their electronic structure, heats of formation, energetic properties, strain energy, thermal stability, and impact sensitivity were systematically studied using density functional theory (DFT). Compared to the parent compound HMX, all the title compounds have much higher density, better detonation properties, and better oxygen balance. Among them, four compounds have extraordinary high detonation properties (D > 9.70 km/s and P > 44.30 GPa). Moreover, most of the title compounds exhibit better thermal stability and lower impact sensitivity than CL-20 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane) or HNHAA (hexanitrohexaazaadamantane). Thus, all of the seven new nitramine compounds are promising candidates for high energy density compounds. In particular, five compounds exhibit a best combination of better oxygen balance, good thermal stability, excellent detonation properties superior to or comparable to CL-20 or HNHAA, and lower impact sensitivity than CL-20 or HNHAA. The results indicate that our unusual design strategy that constructing bicyclic or cage nitramines based on the HMX framework by incorporating the intramolecular linkages is very useful for developing novel energetic compounds with excellent detonation performance and low sensitivity.

Comparative theoretical studies of dinitromethyl- or trinitromethyl-modified derivatives of CL-20

The heats of formation (HOFs), energetic properties, strain energies, thermal stability, and impact sensitivity for a series of trinitromethyl- or dinitromethyl-modified CL-20 derivatives were studied by using density functional theory. It is found that the trinitromethyl group is an effective structural unit for improving the gas-phase HOFs and energetic properties of the derivatives. However, incorporating the dinitromethyl group into the parent compound is not favorable for increasing its HOFs and detonation properties. The effects of the dinitromethyl or trinitromethyl groups on the stability of the parent compound are discussed. The studies on strain energies show that the introduction of the trinitromethyl group intensifies the strain of the cage skeleton for the title compounds, whereas for the dinitromethyl groups, the case is quite the contrary. An analysis of the bond dissociation energies for several relatively weak bonds suggests that the substitution of the dinitromethyl or trinitromethyl group decreases the thermal stability of the derivatives. The C−NO2 bond in the dinitromethyl or trinitromethyl group is the weakest one and the homolysis of the C−NO2 bond may be the initial step in thermal decomposition. In addition, according to the calculated free space per molecule, the introduction of the dinitromethyl or trinitromethyl group increases the impact sensitivities of the derivatives. Considering the detonation performance, thermal stability, and impact sensitivity, six compounds can be regarded as the target high-energetic compounds.