Improved Synthesis and Characterization of 2-(Dinitromethylene)-1- nitro-1,3-diazacyclopentane
A new approach is described to synthesize 2-(dinitromethylene)-l-nitro-1,3-diazacyclopentane (4). 2-(Dinitromethylene)-1,3-diazacyclopentane (1) was synthesized first by the nucleophilic substitution of ethylenediamine and 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (FOX-7) catalyzed by Mg(OAc)2, then 1 was transformed to 4 through nitration, reduction and hydrolysis. The crystal morphology of 4 was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compound 4 was also characterized by IR, NMR, MS and elemental analysis, and by thermogravimetry (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), which revealed that 4 decomposes at 126 °C. The explosive performance of 4 was calculated using the VLW equation. The crystal density of 4 was determined as 1.79 g ·cm-3. The experimental results indicate that 4 is sensitive towards impact and spark stimuli, but insensitive to friction.