N-Methylene-C linkages: a versatile tool for engineering unsymmetrical energetic materials with an energy–stability balance

Abstract

The field of high-energy-density materials continues to face the long-standing challenge of achieving an optimal balance between energy and stability, two inherently conflicting parameters. While monocyclic energetic compounds often struggle to achieve this balance, emerging strategies that integrate multiple explosophoric units within a single molecular framework have shown remarkable promise. Among these, the N-methylene-C bridging strategy stands out for enabling precise modulation of performance and safety through rational selection of ring systems and functional groups. This feature article highlights synthetic methodologies for achieving N-methylene-C linked HEDMs and provides critical insights into their structure–property relationships.