Thermal Decomposition of Energetic Materials 72: Unusual Behavior of Substituted Furazan Compounds upon Flash Pyrolysis

Abstract

The behavior upon flash pyrolysis is described for two neutral furazan compounds of stoichiometry R 1R 2C 2N 2O (R 1 = −NO 2 or −NH 2 and R 2 = −NHNO 2) and four salts (Na +, NH 4 +, NH 2NH 3 +, and NH 3OH +) in which R 1 = −NO 2 and R 2 = −NNO 2 −. Highly exothermic decomposition occurred in all cases. Rapid-scan IR spectroscopy was used to quantify the IR-active gaseous products in real time, while mass spectrometry was used to identify N 2 and, in two cases, O 2. Good to excellent mass balance was obtained for each compound. Although only a few relationships exist between the stoichiometry and the decomposition characteristics, several compounds exhibit surprising and novel behavior. The most unusual behavior occurs when R 1 = −NO 2 and R 2 = −N(H)NO 2. Linear cyanogen-N-oxide NCCNO is formed by opening of the furazan ring and stripping of the substituents. A complex reaction between the substituents produces HNO 3 and N 2 while leaving residual NO 2, rather than producing N 2O and HNO 3 by a simple reaction.