(652a) Green Synthesis Improvements of 3,3' Diaminoazoxy Furazan (DAAF)

High explosive syntheses are often not able to benefit from a greener synthesis due to constraints on yield and impurity profiles. However, Los Alamos National Laboratories (LANL), was able to replace the original synthesis of 3,3'-Diaminoazoxyfurazan (DAAF) with an environmentally friendly synthesis while improving the processing time and maintaining purity profiles and yield without producing a hazardous waste stream. The original route historically required the oxidation of diaminofurazan (DAF) with hydrogen peroxide and concentrated sulfuric acid. The resulting product, DAAF, was impure, containing energetic intermediates which adversely affect the safety margins of this explosive. Therefore, recrystallization was necessary. The aforementioned route utilized to manufacture 5 kilograms (kg) of DAAF generated 40 gallons of hazardous acidic waste (pH=0) containing hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid and high explosive (<1%). The recrystallization step produces another 40 gallons of hazardous waste containing DMSO, water and high explosive (<1%). Additionally, the hazardous waste proved difficult to store as solar heat caused the remaining peroxide to disproportionate and create gas in the sealed drum, thus creating a pressurization hazard. Replacing the hazardous reagents with more benign, environmentally friendly reagents proved beneficial to the environment, shows an increase in yield, and improves the purity profile of the resulting DAAF by eliminating the energetic intermediates.