Efficient and Gram-Scale Synthesis of 1-Methyl-2,3,4-Trinitropyrrole: A Promising Precursor for Insensitive High Energy Melt-Castable Materials

Abstract

1-Methyl-2,3,4,5-tetranitropyrrole (NMTNP) is recently found to be a promising insensitive high energy melt-castable material. To prove its potentials further, herewith, we established 1-methyl-2,3,4-trinitropyrrole (1) as a potent precursor for NMTNP, by developing a method for its efficient synthesis with excellent overall yield. This method involves mild nitrating conditions, easier purification (minimal chromatography) and readily available reagents and hence can be scaled up easily. In addition, the facile synthesis of 2,3,4-trinitropyrrole during this process can lead to new class of pyrrole based high energy density materials.