Pentanitro- and pentanitronitroso-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitanes

Reduction of 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane with a sub-stoichiometric amount of SnCl2 afforded a mixture of isomeric 2,4,6,8,10- and 2,4,6,8,12-pentanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitanes, their ratio depending on the solvent used. Treatment of these compounds with NOBF4 gave rise to isomeric pentanitronitroso-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitanes, which can be transformed into the starting NH products by treating with HCl.