Method of preparing the acid copper salt of 5-nitrotetrazole

摘要

A process for preparing the acid copper salt of 5-nitrotetrazole by slowly adding an aqueous solution of a strong inorganic acid (e.g., H2SO4 or HNO3), 5-aminotetrazole, and a small amount of a water soluble cupric salt (e.g., CuSO4x5H2O) to an aqueous solution of a water soluble cupric salt (e.g., CuSO4x5H2O) and sodium nitrite in a 25 to 100 percent stoichiometric excess. The presence of the cupric salt in the initial 5-aminotetrazole, acid solution prevents the occurrence of minor explosions and the large excess of sodium nitrite produces an easily filtered product rather than a gel. The acid copper salt of nitrotetrazole is used in the preparation of mercuric 5-nitrotetrazole which is useful as a primary explosive in detonators.