Oxygen-Rich Bis(trinitroethyl esters): Suitable Oxidizers as Potential Ammonium Perchlorate Replacements

In the area of solid rocket propellants, research efforts are ongoing to find suitable oxidizers as ammonium perchlorate (AP) replacements. On the one hand, AP’s performance data are excellent; on the other hand, AP and its combustion products lead to health and environmental issues. Herein, the nitraminodiacetic acid bis­(2,2,2-trinitroethyl ester) (NABTNE) is presented as a green AP alternative and is compared to the bis­(trinitroethyl ester) of malonic acid (MaBTNE). Simple syntheses based on economic starting materials furnished both compounds, with NABTNE having a positive oxygen balance (according to CO), a density of 1.84 g cm–3 (@T = −118 °C), and a decomposition point of 180 °C. The density of MaBTNE (δ = 1.81 g cm–3 @T = −147 °C) and the thermal stability (Tdec = 157 °C) are also advantageous. NABTNE as a moderately sensitive and the most promising derivative was shown to be of good stability toward long-term storage. Moreover, mixtures for a potential application in solid rocket formulations were calculated using EXPLO5 (V 6.03).