(Spectro) Electrochemical investigation of reduction mechanism of a new energetic molecule 2,2-dinitroethene-1,1-diamine (FOX-7) in aprotic solvents

The electrochemical reduction behaviour of a new promising energetic material 2,2-dinitroethene-1,1-diamine (FOX-7) was investigated in acetonitrile, dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide at mercury, platinum, gold and glassy carbon electrodes. Instead of expected consumption of four to eight electrons necessary for reduction of nitro groups, only two electrons are consumed. In acetonitrile, the starting form of FOX-7 is the olefinic, nearly planar structure polarized by the push-pull effect, the first electron attacks one of the nitro groups. The electrochemical as well as in situ UV-vis-NIR and EPR spectroelectrochemical results are in agreement with autoprotonation reduction mechanism. The radical intermediate was intercepted and identified by EPR spectrometry where an alternation line-width (AL) effect was observed.