An environment friendly electrochemical synthesis of 1,1,4,4-tetramethyl-2-tetrazene energetic materials from undimethylhydrazine

Abstract

As a prospective alternative liquid propellant, 1,4,4-tetramethyl-2-tetrazene (TMTZ) possesses high enthalpy of formation and environment friendly decomposition products, and shows a promising application prospect in aerospace, munitions manufacturing, etc. An environment friendly and convenient synthesis of TMTZ through electrochemical oxidative coupling of undimethylhydrazine (UDMH) on commercially procured electrodes was carried out under mild conditions, in which the purity is up to 98.5% with a yield of over 45%. It is a simple, clean and suitable method for industrial production in contrast with the previously reported conventional chemical oxidation syntheses.