Synthesis, crystal structure and properties of a novel tetra-nuclear Cu complex of ANPyO

A transition metal Cu complex with 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyridine-N-oxide (ANPyO) ligand has been synthesized and its crystal structure has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction methods. The crystal belongs to Triclinic system with space group P−1. The cell parameters are a=8.6710(17) nm, b=11.226(2) nm, c=18.741(4) nm, α=98.26(3), β=102.60(3), γ=109.17(3), V=1635.1(6) nm3, Dc=1.957 g/cm3, μ=2.663 mm−1, F(000)=968, Z=2, R1=0.0764, WR2=0.1608. The thermal decomposition process of the title complex was studied by means of the TG-DTG and DSC at a heating rate of 20 K/min. It consists of two slow endothermic peaks and one violent exothermic peak with 37.22% residues. The apparent activation energy and pre-exponential factor of the complex in thermal decomposition process were calculated by means of the Kissinger method and Ozawa–Doyle method. The thermal decomposition of AP was accelerated due to the catalyst of the complex, it suggests that the complex can provide theoretical support to further performance study as it is added to the propellant formulations to regulate the burning rate.