Planar, Energetic, π-π-Stacked Compound with Weak Interactions Resulting in a High-Impact- and Low-Friction-Sensitive, Safer, Primary Explosive

1,5-Diaminotetrazolecopper(I) nitrate ([Cu(DAT)(3)]NO3, CDN) was synthesized, and its structure was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Owing to its layered planar structure and weak pi interactions between layers, CDN has a high-impact sensitivity of 1.5 J and relatively low-friction sensitivity of 84 N. First-principles calculations confirm that the planar structure of CDN makes CDN slide easily without the formation of hot spots, and its weak pi interactions cannot resist the deformation toward impact (Young modulus, 10.13 GPa). In addition, the experimental detonation velocity of CDN was measured to be 7600 m s(-1). All of these properties indicate that CDN is a competitive candidate for a high-performance primary explosive that is safe for handling, suitably sensitive for initiation, and powerful enough to detonate secondary explosives.