Skip to main content

Synthesis and crystal structure of β-hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane

Science in China Series B: Chemistry volume 42, pages 217–224 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

A polycyclic caged compound with high strain—hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (HNIW)—has been synthesized via a three-step reaction: condensation, hydrogenolysis debenzylation and nitrolysis, starting with benzylamine and glyoxal. HNIW is the most powerful high energy density compound (HEDC) ever tested. β-HNIW possesses a caged structure consisting of two five-membered rings and one six-membered ring with a nitro group attached to each of the six bridging nitrogens. The nitro group lies basically within a plane. The lengths of C—C bonds of β-HNIW range from 0. 156 nm to 0.159 nm, 0.002–0.005 nm longer than the sp3 C-C bond. The β-HNIW’s crystal belongs to orthorhombic system and space groupPca21 with parameters:a = 0.9670 (2),b = 1.1616 (2),c = 1.3032 (3) nm;V = 1.4638(5) nm3,Z = 4; Dc = 1.989 g/cm3 and Dm = 1.982 g/cm3.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. Nielsen, A. T.,NWC-TP-8020, 1989.

  2. Olah, G. A., Squire, D. R.,Chemistry of Energetic Materials, San Diego: Academic Press Inc., 1991, 99.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Simpson, R. L., Urtiew, P. A., Ornells, D. L. et al., CL-20 performance exceeds that of HMX and its sensitivity is moderate,Propellants, Explosives and Pyrotechnics, 1997, 22: 249.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Jia, H. P., Chen, B. R., Ou, Y. X. et al., Thermal decomposition of hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane,Theory and Practice of Energetic Materials, Beijing: Beijing Institute of Technology Press, 1996, 12–15.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Mi, T. Y.,JP 8–208655, 1996.

  6. Wardle, R. B., Edwards, W. W.,WO 97/20785, 1997.

  7. Nielsen, A. T., Nissan, A. R., Vanderah, J. D. et al., Polyazapolycyclics by condensation of aldehydes with amines, formation of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12-hexabenzyl-2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12-hexaazatetracyclo[5.5.0.05.903.11] dodecanes from glyoxal and benzylamines,J. Org.Chem., 1990, 55: 1459.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, 100081, Beijing, China

    Yuxiang Ou, Huiping Jia, Yongjiang Xu, Boren Chen, Guangyu Fan, Lihua Liu, Fuping Zheng, Zelin Pan & Cai Wang

Authors
  1. Yuxiang Ou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Huiping Jia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yongjiang Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Boren Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Guangyu Fan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Lihua Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fuping Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Zelin Pan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Cai Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Project supported by the Advanced Research Funds (12060451867) from the Commission of Science and Technology for National Defence.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ou, Y., Jia, H., Xu, Y. et al. Synthesis and crystal structure of β-hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane. Sc. China Ser. B-Chem. 42, 217–224 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02875520

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02875520

Keywords

  • hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane
  • high energy density compound
  • explosive
  • crystal structure