DIANP

     DIANP, an acronym for 1,5-diazido-3-nitraza pentane, is an energetic azide liquid explosive material. DIANP can be formulated into gun and rocket motor propellants as an energetic plasticizer. The DIANP, being liquid, is advantageously formulated with nitrocellulose as a replacement for nitroglycerin or other such explosive nitrate ester plasticizer. DIANP lowers flame temperature in propellants without lessening their burning rates. This feature is particularly notable as the usual experience with energetic compounds which lower flame temperatures has been that they also always lower burning rates. As DIANP is liquid at ordinary temperatures it can serve as an energetic plasticizer for solid gun and rocket motor propellants.

CHEMICALS	APPARATUS
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     Into a 1-L round-bottomed flask equipped with a stirrer, thermometer, condenser and addition funnel prepare a mixture of 81 g of sodium azide in 300 mL of DMSO. Since sodium azide is only partially soluble in DMSO, some agglomeration occurres, but is readily broken up with stirring. The bulk of the sodium azide will be a fine suspension. The reactor is flushed with nitrogen and closed to the atmosphere with a drying tube. The mixture is heated at 81 C for 20 minutes. Prepare a solution of 121 g of DINA in 200 mL of DMSO under a stream of nitrogen to minimize moisture absorption during the strong cooling that occurs as DINA dissolves. The mixture is warmed in a water bath during the dissolution. The solution should be filtered to remove any trace amount of fine white particulate matter that does not dissolve. The resulting solution of DINA in DMSO is added dropwise to the sodium azide/DMSO mixture with vigorous stirring. The addition will take about 2.9 hours and the temperature gradually rises to 85 C. When the addition is complete, stirring was continued for 2 more hours at 80 C. The reaction is then cooled to room temperature and stirred for another 2 hours. To separate and purify the DIANP, 2 L of water is added to the reaction mixture at room temperature over a 1 hour period. Stirring is continued for another 20 minutes, and a second liquid phase (orange-colored and partially emulsified) forms in the bottom of the flask. The aqueous layer on top should be dark orange-red and hazy. The aqueous layer is extracted with 600 mL portions of methylene chloride. The lower phase is dissolved in the first washing of methylene chloride. Small amounts of emulsion may form at the interface in all extractions, and are retained in the aqueous layer. The combined methylene chloride extracts were orange-yellow with a total volume of about 1800 mL. The final aqueous phase (orange colored) is discarded. The combined methylene chloride extracts are washed with three 600 mL portions of water. During this washing, the methylene chloride extract becomes lighter in color, while the water washes turn yellow. After washing is complete, the methylene chloride phase (light yellow) is dried over 4A Molecular Sieves. To purify the DIANP, the methylene chloride solution is filtered and passed through a column of neutral activated alumina, pre-wetted with methylene chloride, followed by four washes of 50 mL each of methylene chloride. An orange-colored band (1-2 mm thick) remaines on top of the alumina column. The eluent of DIANP in methylene chloride is clear and colorless with a total volume of 1800 mL. The methylene chloride is evaporated at 30-40 C under reduced pressure and the resulting DIANP residue should be clear, or very light yellow in color. The final yield is 87 grams or 86%.

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