Synthesis of AgN(5) and its extended 3D energetic framework

The pentazolate anion, as a polynitrogen species, holds great promise as a high-energy density material for explosive or propulsion applications. Designing pentazole complexes that contain minimal non-energetic components is desirable in order to increase the material’s energy density. Here, we report a solvent-free pentazolate complex, AgN(5), and a 3D energetic-framework, [Ag(NH(3))(2)](+)[Ag(3)(N(5))(4)]ˉ, constructed from silver and cyclo-N(5)ˉ. The complexes are stable up to 90 °C and only Ag and N(2) are observed as the final decomposition products. Efforts to isolate pure AgN(5) were unsuccessful due to partial photolytical and/or thermal-decomposition to AgN(3). Convincing evidence for the formation of AgN(5) as the original reaction product is presented. The isolation of a cyclo-N(5)ˉ complex, devoid of stabilizing molecules and ions, such as H(2)O, H(3)O(+), and NH(4)(+), constitutes a major advance in pentazole chemistry.