Abstract

We report the catalytic effect of three ruthenocene bimetallic compounds derived from fused aromatic rings of general formula [{Cp*Ru}2L], with Cp*: pentamethylcyclopentadiene and L = pentalene (1), 2,6-diethyl-4,8-dimethyl-s-indacene (2), and 2,7-diethyl-as-indacene (3), on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). The new compound 3 was characterized by a combination of multinuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of compound 3 shows a decrease in the decomposition temperature of AP to 347 ºC, increases the energy release to 2048 J g-1 and, consequently, leads to the lowest activation energy (42.9 kJ mol-1). These results are comparable to the typically used metallocene (catocene: 347 ºC and 2472 J g-1), suggesting a suitable and competitive alternative to be used as a modifier for composite solid propellants.