Synthesis and computational assessment of a new thermally stable 6,6′-(diazene-1,2-diyl)bis(4,5,7-trinitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazole 1-oxide) (DADBTNBO) energetic compound with high performance

A new organic energetic compound 6,6 '-(diazene-1,2-diyl)bis(4,5,7-trinitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazole 1-oxide) (DADBTNBO) is introduced where its computational assessments show that it is a thermally stable explosive with high detonation performance. Herein, the DADBTNBO explosive with high yield and purity is synthesized in 2 steps. The synthesis mechanisms of these steps were investigated. The products of these steps are identified using infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and elemental analysis. The high purity of DADBTNBO was confirmed by the results of 1HNMR, 13CNMR, and elemental analysis. The characterization of the DADBTNBO explosive was determined using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. Then, significant properties of DADBTNBO including heat of detonation, detonation pressure and velocity, adiabatic exponent, Gurney velocity of explosives, specific impulse, and impact sensitivity were calculated by reliable predictive methods. The predicted results show that introducing the furoxan group in DADBTNBO can provide higher density, detonation, and combustion performance in comparison with hexanitrostilbene (HNS) as a heat-resistant high explosive. The predicted detonation velocity, detonation pressure, heat of detonation, and specific impulse of DADBTNBO are 8.8 km s-1, 375 kbar, 5.64 kJ g-1 and 2.46 N s g-1, respectively, which are greater than those estimated for HNS, i.e., 7.6 km s-1, 244 kbar, 3.12 kJ g-1 and 2.24 N s g-1, respectively. Thus, DADBTNBO may give better detonation and combustion performance than that of the HNS. Moreover, the thermal stability and impact sensitivity of DADBTNBO are predicted to be slightly lower than HNS. Thus, it is expected to use DADBTNBO instead of HNS for application in military ordnance, aeronautic and astronautic areas, and puncturing deep petroleum wells.

Automated summary

This article introduces a new organic energetic compound DADBTNBO, which is computationally assessed to be a thermally stable explosive with high detonation performance. Through synthesis and experimental analysis, it is confirmed that DADBTNBO has high purity and important performance indicators that surpass the traditional heat-resistant high explosive HNS. Therefore, DADBTNBO is expected to replace HNS in applications related to military, aerospace, and energy fields.