Tuning the Properties of 5-Azido and 5-Nitramino-tetrazoles by Diverse Functionalization - General Concepts for Future Energetic Materials.

5-Azido and 5-nitraminotetrazole backbones are established heterocyclic motifs in the research field of energetic materials synthesis. Despite the high energy content of the compounds, the problem with many derivatives is that their sensitivities are far too high. Functionalization of one of the ring nitrogen atoms is the aim of this study to adjust the sensitivity by inserting nitratoethyl, azidoethyl and methyl groups. In this context, derivatives of 2-(2-azidoethyl)-5-nitraminotetrazoles (2, 2 a-2 d), as well as 1-nitrato and 1-azidoethyl substituted 5-azidotetrazole (7 and 10) and the methylation products of 5-azidotetrazole (5-azido-1-methyl-tetrazole, 11 and 5-azido-2-methyl-tetrazole, 12) were prepared. The obtained nitrogen-rich compounds were extensively characterized through multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and IR spectroscopy. The structural confinement was checked by X-ray diffraction experiments. The pure samples (verified by elemental analysis) were investigated regarding their behavior toward friction, impact (BAM methods) and electrostatic discharge as well as heating (DTA and DSC). For all metal-free compounds the detonation properties were computed with the EXPLO5 code using their density and heat of formation, calculated based on CBS-4 M level of theory.

Introduction

The application of energetic materials is spread over various fields and thus a material must fulfill suitable criteria. Explosives are divided into three main categories. A) Sensitive explosives, such as sensitizers, igniters or detonants; B) less sensitive but powerful explosives, secondary explosives; and C) insensitive, tertiary explosives. Many of the materials used were developed before or at the beginning of the 20th century, with only a little focus on sustainability or environmental impact. The common primary explosives are often heavy metal based, as there are lead azide or styphnate. Their use is found to contaminate training grounds and application sites. The secondary explosive trinitrotoluene, which is widely used due to its advantageous melt castable properties, shows to have disadvantageous environmental impact and is a possible carcinogenic, as stated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The urgent need for sustainable and environmentally friendly replacements poses major challenges for the energetic materials community. A state‐of‐the‐art synthetic approach consists of derivatization of known oxygen‐ and nitrogen‐rich azoles in combination with short alkyl, azidoalkyl or nitratoalkyl chains. Sabatini et al. found that bis‐5‐(nitratomethyl)bis(1,2,4‐oxadiazole) (c) is suitable to replace trinitrotoluene while showing significantly higher performance data. Furthermore furazanes , 1,2,3‐triazoles , 1,2,4‐triazoles , tetrazoles and pyrazoles were functionalized by energetic azido or nitratoalkyl side chains (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Representatives of energetic N‐alkyl substituted azoles. 3,3’,5,5’‐Tetra(azidomethyl)‐4,4’‐azo‐1,2,4‐triazole (a), 1(2‐nitratoethyl)‐3,4‐dinitropyrazole (b), bis(1,2,4‐oxadiazole)bis(methylene) dinitrate (c) and 1,1’‐bis(2‐azidoethyl)‐azotetrazole (d).

In the search for ever higher nitrogen and energy contents, the energetic compounds, 5‐nitramino‐ and 5‐azidotetrazole , arouse attention. Both molecules are intensively studied as free acids or salinized, and are promising building blocks due to their straight forward accessibility. Here we report different approaches to reduce the acidity of those high energy and nitrogen‐rich tetrazole building blocks. Insights into the changes of the sensitivity are gained. For the 5‐nitraminotetrazole replacement of the acidic tetrazole proton by an azidoethyl function led to a monobasic acid (2) that was further salinized (2  a–d) to reduce the acidity, lower the vapor pressure and increase the thermal stability. Also melt‐castable primary explosives would be of great interest. Therefore, the acidic proton of 5‐azidotetrazole was exchanged by an azidoethyl (7), nitratoethyl (10) or methyl (11, 12) functionality. Functionalization reveals compounds that are suitable for various applications (Figure 2).

Figure 2

Derivatization of 5‐azido‐ and 5‐nitraminotetrazole reveals new applications.

Synthesis

With the synthetic protocol for 2‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐5‐aminotetrazole (1) in hand, which was recently published by our group , we were investigating suitable conditions to perform the nitration of the amino function to the respective nitraminotetrazole 2. We found a pre‐cooled mixture of sulfuric acid and fuming nitric acid (ratio 8 : 3) to work best and this yields pure 2 without further purification in 86 % yield (Scheme 1).

Scheme 1

Nitration of 1 to form the nitramino derivative 2 using mixed acid at low temperatures.

The nitrogen‐rich salts 2  a and 2  b as well as the metal salts 2  c and 2  d were obtained by simple acid‐base reactions of the free nitramine 2 and the respective base, or in the case of 2  d with AgNO3 solution (Scheme 2). All compounds were obtained elemental analysis pure and could be analyzed without further purification. In attempting to prepare the hydrazinium salt of 2, pure 1 was isolated. As has already occurred for other aromatic nitramines , the reaction with aqueous hydrazine leads to a reduction of the nitramine function to the amine.

Scheme 2

Preparation of ionic derivatives 2  a–2  d starting from the free nitramino derivative 2 through reaction with the respective cation containing reagents.

To achieve functionalized 5‐azidotetrazoles classic bromination of 5H‐tetrazoles was performed for three days at reflux (Scheme 3). The 1‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐tetrazole (3  a) was reacted to 1‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐5‐bromotetrazole (4  a) in very good yields. The bromination of 1‐(2‐acetoxyethyl)‐tetrazole (3  b) was performed similar to the literature, and 5‐bromo‐1‐(2‐acetoxyethyl)‐tetrazole (4  b) was yielded in excellent yields (Scheme 3).

Scheme 3

Bromination of 1‐functionalized 5H‐tetrazoles.

Substitution at the 5‐bromo position was then performed by hydrazine. The strong nucleophilicity of hydrazine and the low solubility of the resulting hydrazinium bromide in isopropanol makes bromine‐hydrazine exchange possible, even at room temperature. The reaction was performed either at room temperature for three days or at elevated temperature for shorter periods of time. Compound 4  a can be reacted at 60 °C for 2 h to synthesize 1‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐5‐hydrazineyltetrazole (5). However slow decomposition at room temperature complicated the purification and therefore only a crystal structure and 1H and 13C NMR were measured. To stabilize and purify compound 5 it was precipitated as hydrochloride salt, 1‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐5‐hydraziniumtetrazol chloride (6), from a concentrated isopropanol solution. The overall reaction from compound 4  a to compound 6 proceeds in acceptable yields. Finally, 1‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐5‐azidotetrazole (7) was synthesized through reaction of 6 with sodium nitrite under acidic conditions in excellent yields after column chromatography (Scheme 4).

Scheme 4

Reaction pathway towards 1‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐5‐azidotetrazole (7) by reacting the 5‐position of the tetrazole from bromine to hydrazine to azide.

Reaction of compound 4  b with hydrazine over three days at ambient temperature lead to 5‐hydrazineyl‐1‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐tetrazole (8). The acetoxy moiety of 4  b reacts with hydrazine to acetohydrazide. Several attempts to purify compound (8) failed, only a crystal structure and 1H and 13C NMR were measured. Also, a crystal structure of the hydrochloride was observed by a similar procedure than for 6 (can be found in the Supporting Information). The crude of 5 was reacted with sodium nitrite under acidic conditions to give 5‐azido‐1‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐tetrazole (9). After column chromatography the overall yield from 4  b to 9 is 40 %. In the last step of the synthesis towards 5‐azido‐1‐(2‐nitratoethyl)‐tetrazole (10), compound 9 was nitrated using white fuming nitric acid in very good yields (Scheme 5).

Scheme 5

Reaction pathway towards 5‐Azido‐1‐(2‐nitratoethyl)‐tetrazole (10) by bromine‐hydrazine exchange followed by reaction with sodium nitrite and the nitration of the hydroxy group to its organic nitrate.

For the synthesis of the two isomers of 5‐azido‐methyltetrazole, various synthetic pathways had to be pursued as depicted in Scheme 6. Methylation of in situ generated 5‐azidotetrazole with dimethyl sulfate produces only the 5‐azido‐2‐methyltetrazole (12) isomer due to the two‐position directing effect of the azido group. Therefore, an alternative route toward the 5‐azido‐1‐methyltetrazole (11) had to be established starting with a 1‐methyl substituted tetrazole derivative and subsequent generation of the azide function at position 5.

Scheme 6

Pathway for selective synthesis of 5‐azido‐1‐methyltetrazole (11) through diazotization of 5‐hydrazino‐1‐methyltetrazole and 5‐azido‐2‐methyltetrazole (12) through methylation of 5‐azidotetrazole.

Thus, we started with 1‐methyl‐5‐nitrimino‐4H‐tetrazole, and were able to reduce the nitrimino function with zinc dust under acidic conditions to the respective 5‐hydrazino‐1‐methyltetrazole, which was directly converted to 5‐azido‐1‐methyltetrazole (11) through diazotization using one equivalent of sodium nitrite.

Crystal Structures

Crystals suitable for X‐ray diffraction experiments could be obtained by recrystallization from different common solvents for 2  a, 2  b, 2  d and 10–12. Deposition Numbers 2157201 (for contain(s) the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper. These data are provided free of charge by the joint Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre and Fachinformationszentrum Karlsruhe Access Structures service. Crystalline diazido derivative 7 could be generated and picked by cooling of a saturated solution of 7 in Et2O at −30 °C since it is a liquid at room temperature. Additional information about the depicted crystal structures and the measuring and computation methods as well as further crystal structures for various precursor compounds (5, 6, 8, 9) can be found in the Supporting Information.

Ammonium and hydroxylammonium salts 2  a and 2  b crystallize both in the triclinic space group P−1. As expected, the hydroxylammonium derivative has a slightly higher room temperature density (1.624 g cm−3 for 2  b) then the respective ammonium salt (1.575 g cm−3 for 2  a). The densities are in a range that was expected, when comparing them with related crystal structure densities. As shown in detail in previous studies[ , , ] the densities of N‐azidoethyl substituted tetrazoles are always well below those of N‐nitratoethyl substituted ones. Compared with the room temperature densities of the hydroxylammonium salts of 1‐and 2‐nitratoethyl‐5‐nitraminotetrazole (density for both is 1.720 g cm−3) , the density of 2  b is about 0.1 g cm−3 lower, which was to be expected due to the substitution at position two.

The three‐dimensional configuration of the two salts 2  a and 2  b behave very similarly and can be schematically divided into three different parts depicted in Figure 3 B) Figure 4 B). The interactions in the red areas are exclusively weak van der Waals interactions between the C‐H protons of the ethyl groups and the azide functions. The shortest ones can be found in 2  b (C2‐H2 A⋅⋅⋅N19 2.65 Å) and are therefore negligible for stability discussion due to their weak character. In the blue region are mainly the tetrazole rings, which also loosely interact with each other through π–π‐interactions. But mainly this layer forms both, linking and buffer layer between non‐polar, weakly interacting azidoethyl sites and the strongly stabilizing, polar sites consisting of the respective cations and nitramine functions, highlighted in green. In this region of the two crystal structures of 2  a and 2  b, dominated by strong polar interactions, the overall strongest intermolecular, ionic interactions are found. These are formed through all protons of the cations with the respective nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the nitramine function (O1, O2 and N6) as well as with N1 of the tetrazole moiety. The average bond length d(D−H⋅⋅⋅A) is 2.06 Å with O3‐H3⋅⋅⋅N5 1.80(4) Å being the shortest hydrogen bridge and therefore clearly below the van der Waals radius for a strong interaction.

Figure 3

A) Molecular unit of 2  a with thermal ellipsoids drawn at the 50 % probability level. Selected bond distances (Å) and angles [°]: C1‐N5 1.382(2), C2‐N2 1.467(2), N7‐N8 1.241(2), N8‐N9 1.128(2), N10‐H10A⋅⋅⋅O1 2.10(2), N10‐H10B⋅⋅⋅O2 2.02(2), N10‐H10C⋅⋅⋅N1 2.12(2), N10‐H10D⋅⋅⋅N5 2.05(2), N7‐N8‐N9 173.6(2), N7‐C3‐C2‐N2 62.08(2), O1‐N6‐N5‐C1 1.7(2); B) Layer strcutre of 2  a with view along the b axis. Green, blue and red regions are labeled based on their different components for intermolecular bond formation.

Figure 4

A) Asymmetric unit of 2  b with thermal ellipsoids drawn at the 50 % probability level. Selected bond distances (Å) and angles [°]: C1‐N5 1.392(3), C2‐N2 1.472(3), N7‐N8 1.256(3), N8‐N9 1.128(4), N10‐H10A⋅⋅⋅O4 2.22(3), N10‐H10B⋅⋅⋅O2 2.08(3), N10‐H10C⋅⋅⋅N11 2.13(3), N10‐H10C⋅⋅⋅O5 2.15(3), O3‐H3⋅⋅⋅N5 1.80(4), N7‐N8‐N9 173.5(4), N7‐C3‐C2‐N2 69.9(3), O1‐N6‐N5‐C1 0.2(2); B) Layer structure of 2  b with view along the a axis. Green, blue and red regions are labeled based on their different components for intermolecular bond formation.

Compound 2  d crystalizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca with a density of 2.362 g cm−3 at 298 K and 16 molecular moieties per unit cell. The structure is mainly characterized by the formation of a close silver‐silver contact. The neighboring anions arrange themselves around this structural motif in such manner that the formed argentophilic interaction can be interactively stabilized in the best possible way as depicted in Figure 5 B). Argentophilic interactions are van der Waals contract below a bond distance of 3.44 Å and can be observed in several Ag containing structures. Compared to the shortest ever measured Ag−Ag contact (2.7599(3) Å) the silver‐silver distance is with a length of 3.0288(11) Å clearly above, but can still be considered as argentophilic interaction. The Ag−Ag building block is stabilized by four anionic moieties forming several close contacts. These interactions originate from one nitrogen and one oxygen of the nitramine function, the tetrazole nitrogen atoms N1 and N4 as well as from the γ‐nitrogen of the azide functionality. These electron donating interactions of the complexing N and O atoms are observed in the range of 2.126(7) Å for Ag1‐N14 to 3.154(10) Å for Ag1‐N18ii. In order to optimize the assembly around the silver dimer, some unusual arrangements occur within the anion. For example, one nitramino group is clearly twisted out of the plane formed by the tetrazole (N6‐N5‐C1‐N1 29.3(1)°). However, this rotation improves the complexation of the silver. Nevertheless, this arrangement is unusual for 5‐nitraminotetrazoles, which normally bear 5‐substituted nitramino groups planar with the tetrazole ring.

Figure 5

A) Asymmetric unit of 2  d with thermal ellipsoids drawn at the 50 % probability level. Selected bond distances (Å) and angles [°]: Ag1‐Ag2 3.0288(11), Ag1‐N14 2.126(7), Ag1‐O3 2.877(6), Ag1‐N4 2.137(7), Ag1‐N18ii 3.154(10), Ag2‐N13 2.216(7), Ag2‐N5 2.201(7), Ag2‐O1 2.822(7), Ag2‐N10i 2.489(7), N14‐Ag1‐N4 167.3(3), N13‐Ag2‐N5 144.8(3), N15‐N14‐C4‐N10 8.4(1), N6‐N5‐C1‐N1 29.3(1); B) Representation of the argenophilic interaction between Ag1 and Ag2 with anionic moieties involved in the stabilization; Symmetry codes: (i) 0.5+x, 0.5−y, 1−z, (ii) 1−x, 1−y, 1−z.

Ethyl substituted 5‐azidotetrazole derivatives crystallize in the orthorhombic space group Fdd2 (for 7) and in the monoclinic space group P21/n (for 10). The molecular moieties are depicted in Figure 6 and Figure 7. The room temperature density of nitratoethyl compound 10 is clearly superior to that of the azidoethyl derivative (1.519 g cm−3 for 7, 1.638 g cm−3 for 10). This trend has also been observed in previous studies , since the nitratoethyl unit offers more possibilities for intermolecular interactions on the one hand and contains more and heavier atoms on the other, which also arrange themselves better in space. Since there are no good opportunities for intermolecular interactions for the present nonpolar residues, the three‐dimensional structure of 7 is mainly based on the fact that the azido and azidoethyl substituents avoid each other with a as large spatial distance as possible in order to counteract possible destabilizing interaction (Figure 6 B)).

Figure 6

A) Molecular unit of 7 with thermal ellipsoids drawn at the 50 % probability level. Selected bond distances (Å) and angles [°]: C1‐N5 1.386(4), C2‐N1 1.458(4), N5‐N6 1.251(4), N6‐N7 1.114(4), N8‐N9 1.221(4), 1.127(4), N5‐N6‐N7 171.4(3), N8‐N9‐N10 172.9(3), N9‐N8‐C3‐C2 171.1(3); B) Layer structure of 9 with view along the b axis.

Figure 7

A) Molecular unit of 10 with thermal ellipsoids drawn at the 50 % probability level. Selected bond distances (Å) and angles [°]: C1‐N5 1.463(4), C2‐N1 1.458(4), N5‐N6 1.074(4), N6‐N7 1.207(4), C3‐O1 1.449(4), O1‐N8 1.388(3), N5‐N6‐N7 171.5(3), N1‐C2‐C3 112.6(2), N6‐N5‐C1‐N1 1.7(3); B) Layer structure of 10 with view along the b axis.

The three‐dimensional pattern of 10 in Figure 7 B) shows the assembly of two molecular units resulting in a linear chain structure of those pairs along b. Schematically, a molecular unit of 10 consists of two molecular planes that diverge from each other at an angle of about 112°. One plane is formed by the azidotetrazole backbone and the second by the ethyl group, in the linear direction of which the nitrate ester is connected (O3‐N8‐O1‐C3 179.5(3)°; N8‐O1‐C3‐C2 175.1(2)°). The molecular units within a pair always arrange themselves in an alternating manner, i. e. they are rotated 180 ° to each other and thus a nitratoethyl rest is always superimposed with the azido function of its partner molecule.

The 1‐ and 2‐methyl substituted 5‐azidotetrazoles both crystalize in monoclinic systems, P21/m for 11 and P21/c for 12. This also results in similar three‐dimensional arrangements for both compounds. As shown in Figure 8 B) and Figure 7 B), layers are formed in the illustrated orientations. The alignment to layers is preferred firstly due to the planar character of 11 and 12, and secondly as a result of the two hydrophobic azide and methyl substituents that do not form a good docking site for pronounced intermolecular interactions. The distances between the respective layers of the two 5‐azido‐methyltetrazoles are in the same range (d(11)=3.12 Å, d(12)=3.31 Å).

Figure 8

A) Molecular unit of 11 with thermal ellipsoids drawn at the 50 % probability level. Selected bond distances (Å) and angles [°]: C1‐N5 1.392(3), N5‐N6 1.253(2), N6‐N7 1.113(3), N1‐C2 1.455(3), N2‐N1‐C2 121.2(2), C1‐N1‐C2 131.4(2), N5‐N6‐N7 172.5(2), N6‐N5‐C1‐N4 0.0(2); B) Layer structure of 11.

Despite the high structural conformity, the ordering of the molecular moieties within one layer changes as a result of the different substitution positions. 12 forms linear chains along the orientation depicted in Figure 9 B), with the azide group facing the methyl group with its γ‐nitrogen (N7), and is therefore tightly embraced by these protons. Since this configuration of molecular units in 12 is more space saving then in the molecular pattern of 11, significant differences arise in the density of the isomers. 11 comes up with a density of 1.459 g cm−3 at 298 K whereas, 12 is about 0.08 g cm−3 more dense then its respective one substituted isomer (ρ(12)=1.542 g cm−3).

Figure 9

A) Molecular unit of 12 with thermal ellipsoids drawn at the 50 % probability level. Selected bond distances (Å) and angles [°]:C1‐N5 1.394(2), N5‐N6 1.259(2), N6‐N7 1.113(2), N2‐C2 1.448(2), N1‐N2‐C2 123.0(1), C2‐N2‐N3 123.1(1), N5‐N6‐N7 171.5(2), N6‐N5‐C1‐N4 1.6(2); B) Layer structure of 12.

NMR Spectroscopy

All compounds were characterized through 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy and the respective resonances are listed in Table 1.

Table 1

1H and 13C NMR resonances for compounds 2, 2  a–2  d, 7 and 10–12 measured in DMSO−D6, chemical shifts are reported in ppm with respect to TMS (Si(CH3)4).

Compound	δ [ppm]
	1H	13C
2	9.69, 4.94, 3.97	157.3, 53.0, 48.9
2  a	7.17, 4.69, 3.86	168.3, 51.6, 49.2
2  b	10.03, 4.70, 3.87	168.0, 51.7, 49.2
2  c	4.69, 3.87	169.0, 51.9, 49.6
2  d	4.81, 3.93	166.5, 52.3, 49.0
7	4.20, 3.74	152.8, 49.1, 45.6
10	5.02, 4.68	152.9, 69.8, 43.8
11	3.77	152.9, 33.1
12	4.28	161.9, 40.7

Resonances for the azidoethyl function at position 2 in compounds 2 and 2  a–2  d can be found in the range of 4.69‐4.94 ppm as multiplets (1H) and 51.6‐53.0 ppm (13C) representing the CH2‐group linked to the tetrazole ring and at 3.86‐3.97 ppm as multiplets (1H) and 48.9–49.6 ppm (13C) representing the CH2 protons bonded to Nα. Additional proton signals for these compounds can be found for 2 (nitramine proton) as broad peak at δ=9.69 ppm and the cationic moieties for 2  a and 2  b at δ=7.17 and 10.03 ppm, respectively. The deprotonation of 2 results in a shift to deeper fields of the tetrazole carbon from 157.3 ppm for 2 by about 10 ppm for all ionic derivatives. For compounds 7 and 10 the tetrazole resonance is detected at 153 ppm in the 13C NMR. For the nitratoethyl function of 10 the resonance of the CH2 lined to the organic nitrate assigns at 5.02 ppm and the CH2 unit bonded to N1 at 4.68 ppm. The ethylene unit of 7 shows signals at 4.20 and 3.74 ppm.

For the methyl group signals of 11 (δ=3.77 ppm) and 12 (δ=4.28 ppm), the signal for the 2‐substitution is shifted to higher fields compared to the 1‐substituted one. The 13C shifts for 11 (δ(CN4)=152.9 ppm; δ(CH3)=33.1 ppm) and 12 (δ(CN4)=161.9 ppm; δ(CH3)=40.7 ppm) are in good accordance with other alkyl substituted 5‐azidotetrazoles.

Additionally, compounds 2, 2  a (as representative for the 2‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐5‐nitraminotetrazolate anion), 7 and 10–12 were analyzed through proton coupled 15N spectroscopy. The spectra are illustrated in Figure 10. The nitrogen atoms are named as in the corresponding crystal structures. For the tetrazole moieties, signals for all four nitrogen atoms can be found in very similar ranges, depending on the substitution site (1‐ and 2‐substituted). For 1‐substituted tetrazoles 7, 10 and 11 signals appear at around 0 ppm for N3, −13 ppm for N2, −75 ppm for N4 and −170 ppm for N1. For two substituted isomers 2, 2  a and 12, the chemical shifts for N3 and N4 do not differ hardly compared with 1‐substituted isomers. Values for N1 and N2 can be found around −90 ppm and −102 ppm, respectively.

Figure 10

15N NMR spectra of compounds 2, 2  a, 7 and 10–12. Chemical shifts are reported in ppm with respect to MeNO2. Measurements of 2, 2  a and 11–12 were performed in DMSO‐D6, for 7 and 10 in CDCl3 and in acetone‐D6, respectively.

The same applies to the azide functionalities. Here, however, a distinction must be made between aromatic and alkyl azides. Resonances for aromatic azides can be found in the spectra of compounds 7 and 10–12 in typical ranges of around −300 ppm for Nα, −145 ppm for Nβ and −143 ppm for Nγ, whereas Nβ having the highest intensity, followed by Nγ and Nα being the less intensive signal. Compared to the aromatic azides, alkyl azide resonances appear high‐field shifted at around −315 ppm for Nα, −171 ppm for Nβ and −135 ppm for Nγ with equal intensities. These signals are detectable for compounds 2, 2  a and 7. In the case of aromatic azides, the signals of Nβ and Nγ appear relatively close together, whereas for alkyl azides, there is a clear gap of around 35 ppm between the two signals. Nγ always emerges at higher fields than Nβ.

Additional signals can be found in the spectra of 2, 2  a and 10. These are the nitro group of the protonated nitramine function (N6) of 2 at −34.7 ppm, the nitro group of the deprotonated nitramine function (N6) in 2  a at −13.9 ppm and the organic nitrate (N8) of 10 at −13.3 ppm.

Physico‐chemical Properties

Compounds 2, 2  a–2  d, 7 and 10–12 were tested toward the behavior on certain external stimuli as there are impact, friction, electrostatic discharge and temperature (DTA or DSC). The resulting values are listed in Table 2. All investigated compounds can be declined as energetic materials, since they are more or less sensitive facing those external stimuli, according to UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods. The free acid of 2‐azidoethyl‐5‐nitraminotetrazole 2 is insensitive toward friction and shows an impact sensitivity of 10 J. The two nitrogen‐rich salts (2  a and 2  b) are moderately sensitive, whereas the two metal‐containing salts (2  c and 2  d) are already classified as extremely sensitive with 2d being the most sensitive compound of the 2‐azidoethyl‐5‐nitramino derivatives (IS<1 J, FS=15 N). All 5‐azidotetrazole derivatives (7, 10–12) show impact sensitivities less or equal to 1 J and friction sensitivities of 5 N (for 10) or below for 7, 11 and 12 and are therefore classified as sensitive explosives. Metal containing ionic derivatives 2  c and 2 d are the thermally most stable compounds in this study decomposing at 180 °C and 181 °C, respectively. Nitrogen‐rich derivatives 2  a and 2  b decompose around 170 °C, whereby 2  a shows a smooth melting point at 113 °C. The free nitramine 2 is even liquid after long time storage −30 °C and explodes violently at 93 °C. 5‐Azidotetrazole derivatives 7 and 10–12 all undergo decomposition between 160 °C and 167 °C and possess a melting point in advance. Compound 7 is liquid at room temperature and melts at about −20 °C, 10, 11 and 12 are solids at ambient temperatures and melt at 45 °C, 20 °C and 62 °C, respectively. Based on the densities and the calculated enthalpies of formation, the detonation parameters for all metal‐free were calculated using the EXPLO5 code. All investigated compounds show highly positive values for their heat of formation, with 9, containing two azido moieties showing the overall highest heat of formation of ΔfH0=932.7 kJ mol−1. The calculated detonation velocity for 2  b is 8796 m s−1 and therefore in the range of RDX (V det=8801 m s−1). The performance parameters of the corresponding ammonium derivative as well as of the neutral compound are significantly lower, since they have both lower density and enthalpy of formation. Ethyl substituted 5‐azidotetrazoles 7 and 10 differ about 270 m s−1 is their detonation velocity, whereas nitratoethyl derivative 10 has the higher value with 8165 m s−1. This trend is in accordance with recently published ethyl substituted 5,5’‐azobistetrazoles. In terms of detonation parameters, two methyl substituted 5‐azidotetrazole (12) is clearly superior to its one substituted isomer 11. The detonation velocities are 7616 m s−1 for 11 and 7916 m s−1 for 12 and thus exactly 300 m s−1 apart, which is mainly attributed to the different densities. Unfortunately, the calculated detonation parameters fell short of expectations due to the low densities of the compounds. Both 5‐azidotetrazole backbones and azidoethyl substitutions yield enormous increases in the calculated formation detonation parameters, but the nonpolar properties of the substituents offer only limited opportunities for attractive interactions.

Table 2

Energetic properties and detonation parameters of 2, 2  a–2  d, 7 and 10–12.

	2	2  a	2  b	2  c	2  d	7*	10	11	12
Formula	C3H5N9O2	C3H8N10O2	C3H8N10O3	C3H4N9O2K	C3H4N9O2Ag	C3H4N10	C3H4N8O3	C2H3N7	C2H3N7
M [g mol−1]	199.13	216.17	232.16	237.22	305.99	180.14	200.12	125.11	125.11
IS [J][a]	10	30	9	1	<1	<1	1	<1	<1
FS [N][b]	360	120	40	30	15	<0.1	5	<5	<5
ESD [mJ][c]	–	100	100	25	13	–	10	50	80
[g cm−3][d]	1.60*	1.575	1.624	1.93*	2.362	1.519	1.638	1.459	1.542
N [%][e]	62.4	64.8	60.3	53.1	41.2	77.8	56.0	78.4	78.4
Ω [%][f]	−28.1/−52.2	−37.0/−59.2	−27.6/−48.2	−20.2/−40.5	−15.7/−31.4	−44.4/−71.1	−16.0/−40.0	−44.8/−70.3	−44.8/−70.3
T melt/T dec [°C][g]	n.d./93	113/172	‐/171	126/180	‐/181	−20/167	45/166	20/160	62/162
Δf H 0 [kJ mol−1][h]	647.1	649.1	705.5	–	–	932.7	514.5	594.5	566.9
Δf U 0[kJ mol−1][i]	666.9	673.9	731.5	–	–	950.1	533.1	606.9	579.3
Explo5 V6.05.02
−ΔEx U 0 [kJ kg−1][j]	5282	5199	6281	–	–	5123	5409	4769	4563
T det [K][k]	3650	3321	3845	–	–	3535	3872	3383	3199
V 0 [L kg−1][l]	833	889	889	–	–	802	809	817	810
P CJ [kbar][m]	248	256	295	–	–	215	261	202	216
V det [m s−1][n]	8138	8430	8796	–	–	7898	8165	7616	7916

[a] Impact sensitivity (BAM drop hammer (1 of 6)). [b] Friction sensitivity (BAM friction tester (1 of 6)). [c] Electrostatic discharge device (OZM research). [d] From X‐Ray diffraction analysis recalculated to 298 K; *pycnometric measurement. [e] Nitrogen content. [f] Oxygen balance with respect to CO/CO2 [g] Decomposition temperature (DTA/DSC; β=5 °C min−1). [h] Calculated enthalpy of formation. [i] Calculated energy of formation. [j] Energy of explosion. [k] Detonation temperature. [l] Volume of detonation products (assuming only gaseous products). [m] Detonation pressure at Chapman–Jouguet point. [n] Detonation velocity. *Explo5 V6.05.02 calculation for the theoretical solid state at room temperature.

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Conclusion

By introducing azidoethyl, nitratoethyl and methyl groups to 5‐azidotetrazoles, the physico‐chemical properties could be specifically modified. Nitratoethyl shows a lower sensitivity and a higher melting point (45 °C) with better performance (8165 m s−1) then the respective azidoethyl homologue. Furthermore, the methyl functionalization at N2 not only outperforms its N1‐isomer in terms of physico‐chemical properties but also shows a much easier synthesis. The melting points of the isomers differ by 40 °C with the 2‐isomer melting at 62 °C. The decomposition temperatures of the 5‐azides are not altered by functionalization. The sensitivities are all in the area of primary explosives with 1‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐5‐azidotetrazole (7) being the most sensitive compound which is unusual because this compound is a liquid.

With the synthesis of 2‐(2‐azidoethyl)‐5‐nitraminotetrazole (2) and its nitrogen rich ionic derivatives (2  a, b) new highly energetic secondary explosives were discovered. The hydroxylammonium salt 2  b owns the best explosive performance in this study with a detonation velocity of about 8800 m s−1. The metal salts (2  c, d) are more sensitive explosives and as all ionic derivatives in this work stable up to 180 °C.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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