Energetic transition metal (Co/Cu/Zn) imidazole perchlorate complexes: Synthesis, structural characterization, thermal behavior and non-isothermal kinetic analyses

Abstract

On the reaction of imidazole (IMI) with transition metal perchlorates, three novel energetic coordination compounds, [Co(IMI)6](ClO4)2, [Cu(IMI)4](ClO4)2 and [Zn(IMI)4](ClO4)2, were obtained. They were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray single crystal diffraction. Various fascinating coordination architectures of the central metals were found in these complexes. Co is coordinated by six IMI molecules and forms an octahedral structure. The Cu and Zn atoms are coordinated by four IMI molecules and construct rectangular and tetrahedral configurations, respectively. The thermal decomposition processes of these compounds were investigated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and FT-IR analyses. The kinetic parameters of the exothermic peaks of the compounds were calculated by applying five integral methods and one differential method, and the most probable kinetic mechanism functions for the compounds are the same and can be described as G(α)=1−(1−α)4, f(α)=1/4(1−α)−3.