Synthetic Methods Towards Energetic Heterocyclic N-Oxides via Several Cyclization Reactions

Due to the introduction of oxygen atoms, N-oxide energetic compounds have a unique oxygen balance, excellent detonation properties, and a high energy density, attracting the extensive attention of researchers all over the world. N-oxides are classified into two categories based on the structural characteristics of their skeletons: azine N-oxides and azole N-oxides, whose N→O coordination bonds are formed during cyclization. There are six kinds of azine N-oxides, namely 1,2,3,4-tetrazine-1,3-dioxide, 1,2,3,5-tetrazine-2-oxide, 1,2,3-triazine-3-oxide, 1,2,3-triazine-2-oxide, pyridazine-1,2-dioxide, and pyrazine-1-oxide. Azole N-oxides include 1,2,5-oxadiazole-2-oxide, pyrazole-1-oxide, and triazole-1-oxide. Synthetic strategies towards these two categories of N-oxides are fully reviewed. Corresponding reaction mechanisms towards the aromatic N-oxide frameworks and examples that use the frameworks to create high-energy substances are discussed. Moreover, the energetic properties of N-oxide energetic compounds are compared and summarized.