Structure design and property adjustment of new cage rich-nitrogen pentazolyltetraazacubanes as potential high energy density compounds

In this study, based on two attractive energetic compounds pentazole (PZ) and tetraazacubane (TAC), a new family of high energy and high nitrogen compounds pentazolyltetraazacubanes were designed. Then, a different number of NH2 or NO2 groups were introduced into the system to further adjust the property. The structures, properties, and the structure-property relationship of designed molecules were investigated theoretically. The results showed that all nine designed compounds have extremely high heat of formation (HOF, 1226-2734 kJ/mol), good density (1.73-1.88 g/cm(3)), high detonation velocity (8.30-9.35 km/s), high detonation pressure (29.8-39.7 GPa) and acceptable sensitivity (Delta V: 41-87 angstrom(3)). These properties could be effectively positive adjusted by replacing one or two PZ rings by NH2 or/and NO2 groups, especially for the energy and sensitivity performance, which were increased and decreased obviously, respectively. As a result, two designed pentazolyltetraazacubanes were predicted to have higher energy and lower sensitivity than the famous high energy compound in use 1,3,5,7-tetranitro1,3,5,7-tetraazacyclooctane, while two others have better combination property than 1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane. In all, four new pentazolyltetraazacubanes with good combination performance were successfully designed by combining PZ with TAC, and the further property adjustment strategy of introducing a suitable amount of NH2/NO2 groups into the system. This work may help develop new cage energetic compounds. Copyright (C) 2020 China Ordnance Society. Publishing Services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.