Preparation, characterization and thermolysis of nitrate and perchlorate salts of 2,4,6-trimethylaniline

Nitrate and perchlorate salts of 2,4,6-trimethylaniline have been prepared and characterized by X-ray crystallography and gravimetric analyses. Their thermal decomposition has been studied by TG, TG-DSC and ignition/explosion delays. It has been observed that proton transfer from substituted anilinium ion to nitrate and perchlorate ion regenerate amine, HNO3 and HClO4 in condensed phase at higher temperature, where oxidation-reduction between amine and acids leads to ignition and explosion. The kinetics of thermal decomposition was evaluated by applying model fitting as well as isoconversional methods. The values of calculated activation energy of nitrate and perchlorate salts are 77.9 and 118.2 kJ mol−1 respectively. The possible pathways of thermolysis of these salts have also been proposed.