Synthesis and characterization of functionalized 1,3-bis(2-alkyltetrazol-5-yl)triazenes

A series of 1,3-bis(2-alkyltetrazol-5-yl)triazenes have been synthesized in high yields by treatment of sodium nitrite and hydrochloric acid with substituted-5-aminotetrazoles. All compounds were fully characterized using IR spectroscopy, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and high resolution mass spectrometer (HRMS). Most of these triazenes exhibit good detonation performance comparable with TNT and low melting points ranging from 81 °C to 106 °C, which are suitable for melt-cast explosives. Among these compounds, 1,3-bis(2-azidoethyltetrazol-5-yl)triazene (2g) displays a low melting point (106 °C), moderate onset decomposition temperature (183 °C) and good detonation performance (D: 7087 m/s; P: 17.6 GPa).