Energetic salts of 5,5′-bis(tetrazole-2-oxide) in a comparison to 5,5′-bis(tetrazole-1-oxide) derivatives

xcThe preparation and isolation of 5,5'-bis(2-hydroxytetrazole) by oxidation of 5,5'-bistetrazole using commercially available oxone is described. The nitrogen-rich salts including ammonium, hydroxylammonium, guanidinium, aminoguanidinium, triaminoguanidinium, 5-aminotetrazolium and aminonitroguanidinium have been prepared, characterized (XRD, NMR and vibrational spectroscopy, DSC, mass spectrometry) and compared to their 5,5'-bis(tetrazole-1-oxide) analogues. The impact, friction and electrical spark sensitivities of all compounds were measured and several detonation parameters such as the detonation velocities and detonation pressures were also calculated with the EXPLO5 code based on calculated heats of formation (CBS-4M) and the X-ray densities. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.