Synthesis and Characterization of 1-Hydroxy-5-Methyltetrazole and its Energetic Salts

Abstract. The main goal of this work was the synthesis and characterization of novel insensitive high explosives based on 1-hydroxy-5-methyltetrazole, which served as scaffold/anion from which several nitrogen rich energetic salts were prepared. The compounds were extensively characterized by ¹H, ¹³C NMR and IR spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis as well as low temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction. The thermal stabilities were elucidated by differential thermal analysis and thermo gravimetric analysis. The sensitivities towards impact were measured with a BAM drop hammer, the sensitivities towards friction were measured with a BAM friction apparatus applying one out of six procedure. The energetic performances were calculated with the EXPLO5 code, using the room temperature converted X-ray densities and solid state heats of formation, which were calculated using the Gaussian G09 program and the method CBS-4M.