Synthesis of New Energetic Materials and Ionic Liquids Derived from Metronidazole

Simple and efficient synthetic procedures were established for the preparation of new energetic covalent compounds, salts, and protonated ionic liquids based on the readily available antimicrobial agent metronidazole. Some of these materials exhibit the desirable properties of energetic materials and energetic ionic liquids, such as low vapor pressure, low melting point, good chemical and thermal stability, and high energetic content. For each of the relevant compounds prepared, thermal stability was determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Some of these compounds may be considered promising precursors of pharmaceuticals such as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antifungal, antineoplastic agents, or enzyme inhibitors.