Published 6 issues per year
ISSN Print: 2150-766X
ISSN Online: 2150-7678
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RECENT STUDIES ON THE CHEMICAL CONVERSION OF ENERGETIC MATERIALS TO HIGHER VALUE PRODUCTS
ABSTRACT
The use of energetic materials as chemical feedstocks for higher value products potentially provides environmentally sound and cost-effective alternatives to disposal by open burning/open detonation. The conversion of UDMH (unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine) and Explosive D (ammonium picrate) to higher value explosives such as 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) and 1,3-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (DATB) illustrates our approach. We have developed a new synthesis of TATB that utilizes surplus UDMH (propellant) and Explosive D (high explosive) as starting materials. Methyl iodide reacts with UDMH to provide TMHI (1,1,1-trimethylhydrazinium iodide) which serves as a reagent for the amination of nitroaromatic substrates via Vicarious Nucleophilic Substitution (VNS) of hydrogen. The reaction of picramide (obtained from Explosive D) with TMHI gives TATB or DATB in 95% and 75% yields, respectively. This synthesis should offer significant savings in the production of TATB thereby making this insensitive high explosive more accessible for civilian applications.
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Szala Mateusz, Sałaciński Tomasz, New energetic materials derived from common explosives. Review, Materiały Wysokoenergetyczne / High Energy Materials, 2020. Crossref