Environmentally-Benign Oxidizers for Propulsion

During Phase II of the proposed program, Science and Technology Applications, LLC (STA), proposes to find a green replacement for ammonium perchlorate (AP). During Phase I of this program, the novel tetranitroborate, B(NO2)4-, anion, was identified as a potential high-oxygen carrier. Its combination with the NH4+ cation would result in the formation of ammonium tetranitroborate (ATNB), NH4+B(NO2)4-. Based on our theoretical predictions, the performance of ATNB should rival that of AP, while at the same time being environmentally friendly. Therefore, the objectives of the proposed work in Phase II are to prepare and characterize ATNB. Because the tetranitroborate anion cannot be prepared by standard nitration methods which would produce nitrito compounds, "Umpolung" reactions must be used to first prepare a B(NX)4- skeleton which subsequently can be converted into B(NO2)4- by oxidative cleavage of the N-X bond with either ozone, peroxides or HOF. The proposed work would be performed STA and the Department of Chemistry of the University of Southern California as the research institution.