OPTIMIZED ONE-STEP SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 1-METHYL-4,5-DINITRO-1<i>H</i>-IMIDAZOLE

Abstract

Highly pure 1-methyl-4,5-dinitro-1H-imidazole was obtained from N-methylimidazole in 79% yield. The process was optimized with regard to nitrating mixture composition and the ratio of N-methylimidazole and nitrating mixture. The effects of reaction temperature, time, and the rate of nitrating mixture addition were analyzed. The endothermic peak due to melting was obvious on the DSC curve at 75°C, decomposition started at about 250°C, and the main exothermic decomposition peak was at 278.5°C, which indicated that this compound has good thermal stability.