Developing Nitrogen-Rich High-Energy Initiating Materials: Integration of Azidotetrazole into a Heterocycle via a Two-Step Approach

A general two-step strategy for incorporating 5-azidotetrazole into a nitrogen-rich heterocycle has been developed. This modular approach involves the conversion of heterocyclic amines into gem-dihaloimine intermediates, followed by intramolecular cyclization with sodium azide to afford a series of azidotetrazole heterocycles. Based on this method, two novel energetic compounds were developed. They exhibit high nitrogen contents, large enthalpies of formation, and excellent detonation performance but also high sensitivity, making them promising high-energy initiating materials.