Exploration of low-melting energetic compounds: influence of substituents on melting points

Abstract

To investigate the effect of substituents on nitrate-based energetic compounds, a class of energetic compounds based on triazole nitrates were designed, synthesized, and characterized. Crystal structures of some compounds were proved by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The analysis of the melting point of each compound shows that the effect of the substituent on the melting point of the compound follows a trend of –N₃ > –NO₂ > –ONO₂ > –NNO₂. To verify the trend, we used Hirshfeld surfaces to analyze the intermolecular effects of the substituents. The compounds (3-nitro-1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)methyl nitrate and (5-azido-1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)methyl nitrate, were found to be potential melt cast explosive carriers or energetic plasticizers.