Synthesis of AgN5 and its extended 3D energetic framework

The pentazolate anion, as a polynitrogen species, holds great promise as a high-energy density material for explosive or propulsion applications. Designing pentazole complexes that contain minimal non-energetic components is desirable in order to increase the material’s energy density. Here, we report a solvent-free pentazolate complex, AgN 5 , and a 3D energetic-framework, [Ag(NH 3 ) 2 ] + [Ag 3 (N 5 ) 4 ]ˉ, constructed from silver and cyclo-N 5 ˉ. The complexes are stable up to 90 °C and only Ag and N 2 are observed as the final decomposition products. Efforts to isolate pure AgN 5 were unsuccessful due to partial photolytical and/or thermal-decomposition to AgN 3 . Convincing evidence for the formation of AgN 5 as the original reaction product is presented. The isolation of a cyclo -N 5 ˉ complex, devoid of stabilizing molecules and ions, such as H 2 O, H 3 O + , and NH 4 + , constitutes a major advance in pentazole chemistry.