The alpha-beta phase transition in the novel energetic material 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene, C2H4N4O4 (FOX-7), has been studied by single-crystal X-ray investigations at five different temperatures over the 200-393 K range. In these investigations, the positions of the hydrogen atoms were experimentally determined without any geometric constraints. In addition, X-ray powder investigations using the Guinier technique have been performed to characterize the beta-phase up to 423 K. The alpha-beta phase transition at 389 K is first order, shows a discontinuous increase of the molar volume and entropy (DeltaV = 1.75 cm3/mol, X-ray investigation; DeltaS = 1.5 cal/K mol, DSC analysis), and can be classified as displacive. The hitherto unknown structure of beta-FOX-7 was solved at 393 K and showed simple structural relations to the alpha-polymorph. The characteristic bonding in wave-shaped layers is now found for beta-FOX-7 (P2(1)2(1)2(1), z = 4, a= 6.9738(7) A, b = 6.635(1) A, c = 11.648(2) A, 393 K), as well as for alpha-FOX-7 (P2(1)/n, z = 4, a = 6.9467(7) A, b = 6.6887(9) A, c = 11.350(1) A, beta = 90.143(13) degrees , 373 K). Interestingly, whereas the intramolecular C-C, C-N, N-O, and N-H bond distances remain nearly unchanged for both polymorphs over the whole temperature range from 200 to 393 K, the two nitro groups deviate strongly from the molecular plane formed by the two carbon and two amino nitrogen atoms. In alpha-FOX-7 at 373 K, the nitro groups are twisted -47 and +6 degrees with respect to the carbon-carbon bond, but in beta-FOX-7 at 393 K, these twist angles are changed to -36 and +20 degrees . Within the layers, the FOX-7 molecules show strong pi-conjugation and extensive intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding. In this investigation, we have been able to show that alpha- and beta-FOX-7 build up different nets of intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In alpha-FOX-7, each oxygen atom of the nitro groups is involved in two hydrogen bonds resulting in two intramolecular and six intermolecular hydrogen bonds. But in beta-FOX-7 this coordination changes, and half of the oxygen atoms build up two and the other half build up three hydrogen bonds leading to two intramolecular and eight intermolecular hydrogen bonds. The average intermolecular hydrogen bond distance increases slightly from 2.31 A in alpha-FOX-7 to 2.52 A in beta-FOX-7. The C-NO2 bonds are of particular interest because they are referred to as the detonation trigger. It has been suggested that these bonds could be strengthened by the extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonding within the layers in both polymorphs. Such bond strengthening via cooperative effects was proposed in earlier DFT calculations on FOX-7 and may be one key to understanding its low sensitivity and high activation energy to impact.

A new family (ammonium, 1, hydrazinium, 2, guanidinium, 3, aminoguanidinium, 4, diamino-guanidinium, 5, and triaminoguanidinium, 6) of simple, nitrogen-rich energetic salts based on 5-nitro-2 H-tetrazole (HNT) were synthesized. In addition, the hemihydrate of 1 (1a) and the hydrate of 6 (6a) were also isolated. In all cases, stable salts were obtained and fully characterized by vibrational (IR, Raman) spectroscopy, multinuclear ((1)H, (13)C and (14)N) NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray structure determination. Compounds 1and 2 crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2 1/c, 1a and 3 crystallize in C/2 c, 4 in P2 1/n, 5 in P2 1, 6 in orthorhombic P2 12 12 1, and 6a in triclinic P1. Initial safety testing (impact, friction, and electrostatic sensitivity) and thermal stability measurements (DSC) were also carried out. The NT salts all exhibit good thermal stabilities (decomposition above 150 degrees C). The constant volume energies of combustion (Delta c U(exp)) of 1-6 were experimentally determined by oxygen bomb calorimetry to be -1860(30) cal/g ( 1), -1770(30) cal/g ( 1a), -2110(150) cal/g (2), -2250(40) cal/g ( 3), -2470(30) cal/g (4), -2630(40) cal/g (5), -2690(50) cal/g (6), and -2520(50) cal/g (6a). Because of the significant experimental uncertainties obtained in these measurements, their validity was checked by way of quantum chemical calculation (MP2) of electronic energies and an approximation of lattice enthalpy. The predicted constant volume energies of combustion (Delta c U(pred)) calculated by this method were -2095.9 cal/g (1), -1975.7 cal/g ( 1a), -2362.4 cal/g (2), -2526.6 cal/g (3), -2654.6 cal/g (4), -2778.6 cal/g ( 5), -2924.0 cal/g (6), and -2741.4 cal/g ( 6a). From the experimentally determined density, chemical composition, and energies of formation (back calculated from the heats of combustion) the detonation pressures and velocities of 1 (7950 m/s, 23.9 GPa), 1a (7740 m/s, 22.5 GPa), 2(8750 m/s, 30.1 GPa), 3 (7500 m/s, 20.1 GPa) 4(8190 m/s, 24.7 GPa), 5(8230 m/s, 24.4 GPa), 6 (8480 m/s, 26.0 GPa) and 6a (7680 m/s, 20.7 GPa) were predicted using the EXPLO5 code.

1-methyl-5-aminotetrazole (4, MAT) can easily be protonated by strong acids, yielding known but largely uninvestigated 1-methyl-5-aminotetrazolium nitrate (4a) and perchlorate (4b). Methylation, rather than protonation, of 4 with iodomethane followed by the exchange of the iodide (5a) for nitrate (5b), perchlorate (5c), azide (5d), and dinitramide (5e) yields a new family of energetic methylated aminotetrazole salts. In all cases, stable salts were obtained and fully characterized by vibrational (IR, Raman) spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and X-ray structure determination. Compounds 4a, 4b, and 5c crystallize in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n, whereas compounds 5b and 5e crystallize in the orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) and 5d in the orthorhombic Fddd. Initial safety testing (impact, friction, and electrostatic sensitivity) and thermal stability measurements (DSC) were also carried out. The MAT salts all exhibit good thermal stabilities (decomposition above 150 degrees C). The constant volume energies of combustion (DeltacU) of 4a, 5b, 5d, and 5e were determined to be -2510(10) cal/g, -3190(30) cal/g, -4500(100) cal/g, and -2570(70) cal/g, respectively, experimentally using oxygen bomb calorimetry. From the experimentally determined density, chemical composition and energies of formation (back calculated from the heats of combustion), the detonation pressures and velocities of 4a (8100 m/s, 25.6 GPa), 5b (7500 m/s, 20.2 GPa), 5d (8200 m/s, 21.7 GPa), and 5e (7500 m/s, 21.2 GPa) were predicted using the EXPLO5 code.

Abstract1,1‐Diamino‐2,2‐dinitroethene, C2H4N4O4 (FOX‐7), is a novel high energy density material with low friction and impact sensitivity and a high activation barrier to detonation. In this study, the previously unknown crystal structure of the γ‐polymorph of trimorphic FOX‐7 is reported. γ‐FOX‐7 is stable from ∼435 K until the compound decomposes just above 504 K. A single crystal of α‐FOX‐7 (P21/n, Z=4, a=694.67(7) pm, b=668.87(9) pm, c=1135.1(1) pm, β=90.14(1)°, T=373 K) was first transformed into a single crystal of β‐FOX‐7 (P212121, Z=4, a=698.6(1) pm, b=668.6(2) pm, c=1168.7(3) pm, T=423 K) and then into a single crystal of γ‐FOX‐7 at 450 K. The γ‐FOX‐7 crystal was then subsequently quenched to 200 K. The structure of γ‐FOX‐7 (P21/n, Z=8, a=1335.4(3) pm, b=689.5(1) pm, c=1205.0(2) pm, β=111.102(8)°, T=200 K) consists of four planar layers, each containing two crystallographically independent FOX‐7 molecules found in the asymmetric unit.

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A family of sensitive energetic salts of the 5-nitrotetrazolate anion with alkali metal cations (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+ and Cs+) were synthesized either by the digestion of an acid copper salt of 5-nitrotetrazole with a suitable metal hydroxide, or alternatively by reaction of ammonium 5-nitrotetrazolate with a suitable metal base (MOH, MHCO3 or M2CO3) in aqueous or alcoholic solution. All the compounds were characterized by analytical methods (elemental analysis and mass spectrometry) and spectroscopic methods (NMR and vibrational spectroscopy). The lighter metal salts and , incorporate three and two crystal water molecules in the structure, respectively, whereas the heavier alkali metal derivatives form anhydrous species, and thus showed enhanced sensitivity to friction and shock. In addition, the crystal structure of each of the new materials was determined by X-ray diffraction techniques ( and : monoclinic, P2(1)/c; : triclinic, P1; : monoclinic, Cc and : monoclinic, C2/c). The thermal stability of compounds was assessed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) measurements showing significant thermal stability. Lastly, the energies of combustion of and were measured experimentally using oxygen bomb calorimetry (, -1340(15) cal g(-1) and , -1200(20) cal g(-1)) and was used to calculate their standard molar heats of formation (, -610(55) kJ mol(-1) and , -360(65) kJ mol(-1)).

1,4-Dimethyl-5-aminotetrazolium 5-nitrotetrazolate (2) was synthesized in high yield from 1,4-dimethyl-5-aminotetrazolium iodide (1) and silver 5-nitrotetrazolate. Both new compounds (1, 2) were characterized using vibrational (IR and Raman) and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy ( 1 H, 13 C, 14 N, 15 N), elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. 1,4-Dimethyl-5aminotetrazolium 5-nitrotetrazolate (2) represents the first example of an energetic material which contains both a tetrazole based cation and anion. Compound 2 is hydrolytically stable with a high melting point of 190 8C (decomposition). The impact sensitivity of compound 2 is very low (30 J), it is not sensitive towards friction (> 360 N).The molecular structure of 1,4-dimethyl-5-aminotetrazolium iodide (1) in the crystalline state was determined by X-ray crystallography: orthorhombic, F ddd , a ¼ 1.3718(1) nm, b ¼ 1.4486(1) nm, c ¼ 1.6281(1) nm, V ¼ 3.2354(5) nm 3 , Z ¼ 16, 1 ¼ 1.979 g cm À1 , R 1 ¼ 0.0169 (F > 4s(F)), wR 2 (all data) ¼ 0.0352.The molecular structure of 1,4-dimethyl-5-aminotetrazolium 5nitrotetrazolate (2) in the crystalline state was also determined by X-ray crystallography: orthorhombic, P 2 1 2 1 2 1 , a ¼ 0.5709(1) nm, b ¼ 1.2866(2) nm, c ¼ 1.3328(2) nm, V ¼ 0.9789(3) nm 3 , Z ¼ 4, 1 ¼ 1.548 g cm À1 , R 1 ¼ 0.0389 (F > 4s (F)), wR 2 (all data) ¼ 0.0973.

A variety of sulfonic acids have been trifluoromethylated using 1-trifluoromethyl-1,2-benziodoxol-3(1H)-one under mild conditions in good to excellent yields. Initial mechanistic investigations of this reaction show a clean second-order kinetics and only very weak substrate electronic effects.