Nitrogen- and Sulfur-Containing Energetic Compounds. 64 Years of Fascinating Chemistry

Abstract

This essay details the author’s work with high-energy molecules based on sulfur or nitrogen, or both, which started with amateur rocket propellants like zinc dust and sulfur followed by experiments with the highly sensitive compounds nitrogen trichloride and fulminating gold. Research on the inorganic and organic fulminates and the isomeric cyanates led to detailed investigations of reactive intermediates generated by flash vacuum pyrolysis or photolysis, in particular nitrenes and carbenes derived from azides, diazo compounds, triazoles, and tetrazoles and characterized in low temperature matrices.

Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence Spectroscopy of NCl3 and NCl2

“…As NCl 3 is explosive and difficult to handle in pure form, [5] little information is available on the compound. Geometries were obtained from microwave spectroscopy.…”

RACI Awards 2017–19

“…Further research on the inorganic and organic fulminates and the isomeric cyanates led to detailed investigations of reactive intermediates generated by flash vacuum pyrolysis or photolysis; in particular, nitrenes and carbenes derived from azides, diazo compounds, triazoles, and tetrazoles and characterised in low temperature matrices. [3] Georgina Such (The University of Melbourne) received the Polymer Division's 2018 David Sangster Polymer Science and Technology Achievement Award. In an account with Angus P. R. Johnston on 'Understanding Cell Interactions Using Modular Nanoparticle Libraries', the potential of nanoparticle systems to deliver novel therapeutics, such as proteins, DNA or small molecules is outlined.…”