AbstractAn efficient cyclization between nitro‐substituted benzoic acids and nitro‐substituted benzohydrazides affords 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles. Facile synthesis and a broad substrate scope produce a range of compounds, some of them with potential as high‐energy compounds. Heats of formation (ΔHf) and densities (ρ) were calculated, and heats of decomposition (ΔHd) and combustion (ΔHc) were determined experimentally. The densities of seven of the synthesized compounds were determined by gas pycnometry, and the respective values of detonation velocity (VD), detonation pressure (PD) and specific impulse (ISP) were calculated using the EXPLO5 program. An X‐ray structure of 2‐(2,4‐dinitrophenyl)‐5‐(3,5‐dinitrophenyl)‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (4n) revealed the non‐planarity of the molecule and afforded a crystal density of 1.698 (at 120 K), close to the pycnometric value of 1.64 at room temperature.