Computational Studies on Nitro Derivatives of 1-Hydroxy-1,2,4-triazole

Thermodynamic properties and energetics of the nitro derivatives of 1-hydroxy-1,2,4-triazole, viz. 1-hydroxy-3-nitro-1,2,4-triazole (A), 1-hydroxy-5-nitro-1,2,4-triazole (B), and 1-hydroxy-3,5-dinitro-1,2,4-triazole (C), are considered for a detailed computational study during the present investigation using a density functional theory B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) method as implemented in the Gaussian 03 suite of programs. Heats of formation and other thermodynamic properties for all of the compounds considered were determined. Studies revealed that these compounds possess the requisite properties for use as high-density energetic materials. Detonation velocity (D) and detonation pressure (P) of the title compounds were evaluated using the Kamlet-Jacobs method based on the crystal densities calculated at the DFT(B3LYP)/6-311G(d,p) level incorporating the electrostatic interaction. Calculation showed that these compounds yielded a detonation pressure and detonation velocity in the range of 27–35 GPa and ∼8 km/s, respectively, at loading densities of 1.60–1.90 g/cm3. The calculated values are comparable to the values determined for powerful commercial explosives such as Research Department Explosive (RDX) (34.10 GPa, 8.75 km/s, 1.80 g/cm3), High Melting Explosive (HMX) (39.00 GPa, 9.11 km/s, 1.89 g/cm3), and Trinitrotoluene (TNT) (21.00 GPa, 6.93 km/s, 1.64 g/cm3).