# Convenient Preparation, Thermal Properties and X-ray Structure Determination of 2,3-Dihydro-5,6,7,8-tetranitro-1,4-benzodioxine (TNBD): A Promising High-Energy-Density Material

## TL;DR

This paper reports the synthesis and characterization of TNBD, a new high-energy-density material with promising thermal and detonation properties.

## Contribution

A convenient synthesis method and detailed thermal/detonation analysis of TNBD as a novel high-energy-density material.

## Key findings

- TNBD was synthesized with an 81% yield and characterized via X-ray crystallography.
- Thermal analysis showed onset at 240 °C and melting at 286 °C with complete degradation at 290–329 °C.
- TNBD's detonation properties (7727 m/s velocity) outperform tetryl, suggesting its potential as a thermostable high-energy material.

## Abstract

2,3-dihydro-5,6,7,8-tetranitro-1,4-benzodioxine (TNBD), molecular formula = C8H4N4O10, is a completely nitrated aromatic ring 1,4-benzodioxane derivative. The convenient method of TNBD synthesis was developed (yield = 81%). The detailed structure of this compound was investigated by X-ray crystallography. The results of the thermal analysis (TG) obtained with twice re-crystallized material revealed the onset at 240 °C (partial sublimation started) and melting at 286 °C. The investigated material degraded completely at 290–329 °C. The experimental density of 1.85 g/cm3 of TNBD was determined by X-ray crystallography. The spectral properties of TNBD (NMR, FT-IR and Raman) were explored. The detonation properties of TNBD calculated by the EXPLO 5 code were slightly superior in comparison to standard high-energy material—tetryl (detonation velocity of TNBD—7727 m/s; detonation pressure—278 kbar; and tetryl—7570 m/s and 226.4 kbar at 1.614 g/cm3, or 260 kbar at higher density at 1.71 g/cm3. The obtained preliminary results might suggest TNBD can be a potential thermostable high-energy and -density material (HEDM).