Nitrophenyl azides: A combined experimental and theoretical study

The thermal decomposition of three nitrophenyl azides, 1,3-5-(NO2)3-2,4,6-(N3)3-C6 (TNTA, 1), 1,3-(NO2)2-2,4,6-(N3)3 -C6H (DNTA, 2), and 1,3,5-(NO2)3-2-(N3)-C6H2 (TNMA, 3), were studied experimentally, and the reaction energies were calculated quantum-chemically [B3LYP/6-31G(d)//PM3/VSTO-3G(d)]. The compound that was most promising as a potential high energy density material (HEDM) was found to be 1,3-5-(NO2)3-2,4,6-(N3)3-C6 (TNTA, 1), because the thermal decomposition led to gaseous products only (CO and N2). The combustion of mixtures of with O2 and 1 with NH4NO3 was also studied and calculated. The solid mixture of 1 and NH4NO3 in a 1:6 molar ratio was studied and discussed as a potential new HEDM.