Krapcho Decarboxylation of Ethyl-Carbazate: Synthetic Approach toward 1,1'-Diamino-5,5'-bistetrazole and Its Utilization as a High-Performing Metal-Free Initiator.

1,1'-Diamino-5,5'-bistetrazole (CHN), a highly nitrogen-containing compound with promising energetic characteristics, is available through a classic organic reaction protocol applied on an inorganic azole system. This is the only Krapcho reaction on a carbamate system described in the literature so far. 1,1'-Diamino-5,5'-bistetrazole was extensively characterized through multinuclear spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, thermal analysis, and X-ray diffraction. The sensitivity values were measured, and detonation values were calculated. Its capability to initiate pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) was successfully demonstrated.