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Updated: Jul 1, 2026

Research and Development of High-performance Explosives
Published on: February 20, 2016
Synthesis and Characterization of the Potential Melt-Castable Explosive 3-(1,2,4-Oxadiazolyl)-5-Nitratomethyl
Eric C Johnson1, Tristen A Reid1, Christopher W Miller1
1CCDC US Army Research Laboratory, Energetics Synthesis & Formulation Branch, Aberdeen, Proving Ground, MD 21005, USA.
Abstract:
The synthesis of 3-(1,2,4-oxadiazolyl)-5-nitratomethyl isoxazole (C6 H4 N4 O5 ), its physical properties, and its theoretical performances are described. This energetic material was found to have a melting point range of 76.6-79.2 °C, and a thermal onset decomposition temperature of 184.5 °C. These thermal features put this material into the standalone melt-castable explosive class. The material was found to have TNT performance, and was found to be insensitive to impact, friction, and electrostatic discharge, despite having a nitric ester functionality. A critical reaction in making this molecule was the desymmetrization of diaminoglyoxime. The optimization of this transformation is described. Previous reports of this desymmetrization were found to be inaccurate, as the desymmetrization reaction produces a co-crystal of mono- and bi-1,2,4-oxadiazole products.
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