title: Decomposition of the polycyclic nitramine explosive, CL-20, by Fe(0).
abstract: CL-20 (2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane), C6H6N12O12, is an emerging energetic chemical that may replace RDX, but its degradation pathways are not well-known. In the present study, zerovalent iron was used to degrade CL-20 with the aim of determining its products and degradation pathways. In the absence of O2, CL-20 underwent a rapid decomposition with the concurrent formation of nitrite to ultimately produce nitrous oxide, ammonium, formate, glyoxal, and glycolate. LC/MS (ES-) showed the presence of several key products carrying important information on the initial reactions involved in the degradation of CL-20. For instance, a doubly denitrated intermediate of CL-20 was detected together with the mono- and dinitroso derivatives of the energetic chemical. Two other intermediates with [M-H]- at 392 and 376 Da, matching empirical formulas of C6H7N11O10 and C6H7N11O9, respectively, were detected. Using 15N-labeled CL-20, the two intermediates were tentatively identified as the denitrohydrogenated products of CL-20 and its mononitroso derivative, respectively. The present experimental findings suggest that CL-20 degraded via at least two initial routes: one involving denitration and the second involving sequential reduction of the N-NO2 to the corresponding nitroso (N-NO) derivatives prior to denitration and ring cleavage.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H4P 2R2.
authors.forename: Vimal K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Balakrishnan
authors.forename: Fanny
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monteil-Rivera
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halasz
authors.forename: Aurelian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corbeanu
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hawari
mesh_terms: D001372:Aza Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: C482139:2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaaza-isowurtzitane; D001372:Aza Compounds; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006571:Heterocyclic Compounds; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D007501:Iron; D009584:Nitrogen