The present monograph is devoted to the chemistry of nitroazoles, one of the most interesting series of heteroaromatic compounds. The azoles hold a special position in the chemistry of heterocycles. Their unique properties and specific biological activity attract much attention of research chemists all over the world. During the last years the interest in the chemistry of nitroazoles has increasing. The nitro derivatives of azoles have found a wide application in various fields of industrial chemistry, agriculture, and medicine. Medical products developed by nitroazoles incluce a- mycin, metronidazole, misonidazole, tinidazole, nitazole, etc. , ionic liquids, hi- energy materials, synthons for nanocompounds, universal bases in peptide nucleic acids, plant growth regulators, and intermediates for organic synthesis. The investigations in the field of energetic compounds have received enormous interest in recent years. Energetic materials on the base nitroazoles - explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics - are widely used for both civilian and military applications.
Nitroazoles, especially polynitroazoles, possess higher heat of for- tion, density, and oxygen balance than their carbocyclic analogs. A number of ongoing research programs worldwide are aimed for the development of new explosives and propellants with higher performance characteristics or enhanced insensitivity to thermal or shock insults and pyrotechnics with reduced smoke. The preparation of nitroazoles demonstrates its great synthetic potential. At the same time, feasibility and availability of the starting molecules make this strategy a p- erful method for high-energy material construction.