1-Amino-5-nitriminotetrazolate as a promising anion in safe yet powerful energetic coordination compounds.

Ammonium 1-amino-5-nitriminotetrazolate (NH4ANIT) was used as a precursor for energetic coordination compounds (ECCs). The highly energetic copper salt [Cu(ANIT)2(H2O)2] was selectively prepared. The reaction of NH4ANIT with copper(II) nitrate trihydrate followed by the addition of neutral ligands (L), such as 1,2-di(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)ethane (1,1-dte), 1,3-di(1H-tetrazol-1-yl)propane (1,1-dtp), and 1-(2-azidoethyl)-1H-tetrazole (1-AET), produced energetic complexes of the types [Cu(ANIT)2(L)2] and [Cu(ANIT)2(μ-L)]. The structural characteristics of these ECCs were analyzed by low temperature single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Their energetic parameters, such as impact and friction sensitivities according to BAM, were evaluated to give insight into the value of the ANIT anion for replacements of the commercially used lead azide (LA) and lead styphnate (LS) as primary explosives. The two most promising candidates [Cu(ANIT)2(H2O)2] and [Cu(ANIT)2(1-AET)2] were analyzed concerning their particle distribution and sphericity by laser diffraction particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy to gain insight into the processability of these substances.