Synthesis and Characterization of a Dinuclear Nitrogen-Rich Ferrocenyl Ligand and Its Ionic Coordination Compounds and Their Catalytic Effects During Combustion

Alkylferrocene-based burning-rate catalysts (BRCs) exhibit distinct migration tendency and high volatility and thus result in inferior performance of composite solid propellants during their combustion processes. To deal with these drawbacks, a novel dinuclear nitrogen-rich ferrocene derivative, 4-amino-3,5-bis(4-ferrocenyl-1,2,3-triazolyl-1-methyl)-1,2,4-triazole (BFcTAZ) and its twenty seven ionic coordination compounds, [M-2(BFcTAZ)(2)(H2O)(4)](m)X-n center dot xH(2)O (M = Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe3+, Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+ and Pb-2; X = polycyano anions), were synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, UV/Vis, and elementary analysis. Crystal structure of BFcTAZ was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and a general molecular structure of the new complexes was proposed. Their high thermal stability was verified by TG technique. Cyclic voltammetry studies suggested that the new compounds are diverse redox systems. Their effects on the thermal degradation of some common oxidizers were measured by DSC technique. The results indicated that most of the new complexes exert great effects on the thermal decomposition of AP, RDX, and 1,1-diamino-2,2-dinitroethylene (FOX-7) and some of them are more active than catocene. The Cu2+ complexes are among the excellent ones. However, only six compounds have appreciable catalytic activity in the thermal degradation of HMX.