A DFT study of cage compounds: 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12-hexanitro-3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12-hexaazatetracyclo [5.5.1.12,6.04,9] dodecane and its derivatives as high energetic materials

Abstract

A new cage compound, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12-hexanitro-3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12-hexaazatetracyclo [5.5.1.12,6.04,9] dodecane (HNHATCD, I) as well as its –ONO2 (II) and –N3 (III) derivatives were proposed in the present work. Their molecular structures were optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level of density functional theory. Heat of formation, strain energy, detonation performance, and thermal stability were studied. Results show that the –N3 group greatly increases the heat of formation, but decreases the strain energy and density, and it is much more helpful for enhancing the detonation energy than the –NO2 and –ONO2 groups. An analysis of bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of the weakest bonds implies that the BDE of –N3 derivatives is the smallest but it is still larger than 120 kJ mol−1, revealing that these designed compounds have a high thermal stability. Considering the detonation performance and thermal stability, I and II may be potential candidates of high energy density materials.