Energetic nitrogen-rich salts and ionic liquids: 5-aminotetrazole (AT) as a weak acid

Abstract

5-Aminotetrazole (AT) behaves as a weak acid and can be used to obtain nitrogen-rich energetic salts and ionic liquids. These AT salts have been characterized by IR, NMR, elemental analysis, thermal stability, phase behavior, and density. The salt 2 contains 82% nitrogen, and 7 has the highest nitrogen content (68%) of any known room temperature ionic liquid. Compound 5 crystallizes in the chiral orthorhombic system P2(1)2(1)2(1). Based on their calculated heats of formation, detonation properties, and thermal and hydrolytic stabilities, these stable AT compounds hold promise for energetic applications. © 2008 The Royal Society of Chemistry.