3,4-Bis(3-tetrazolylfuroxan-4-yl)furoxan: A Linear C–C Bonded Pentaheterocyclic Energetic Material with High Heat of Formation and Superior Performance

The design and preparation of new nitrogen-rich heterocyclic compounds are of considerable significance for the development of high-performing energetic materials. By combining nitrogen-rich tetrazole and oxygen-rich furoxan, a linear C–C bonded pentaheterocyclic energetic compound, 3,4-bis­(3-tetrazolylfuroxan-4-yl) furoxan (BTTFO), was synthesized using a facile and straightforward method. Comprehensive X-ray analysis reveals the key role of hydrogen bonds, π–π interactions, and short contacts in the formation of dense packing of BTTFO and explains why a long chain-shaped molecule has a high density. This multicyclic structure incorporating three furoxan and two tetrazole moieties results in an exceptionally high heat of formation (1290.8 kJ mol–1) and favorable calculated detonation performances (v D, 8621 m s–1, P, 31.5 GPa). The interesting structure and fascinating properties demonstrated the feasibility of a linear multicyclic approach as a high-energy-density skeleton. Additionally, the thermodynamic parameters, electrostatic potential (ESP), and frontier molecular orbitals were also studied to get a better understanding of structure–property correlations.