Recent research on the synthesis pentazolate anion cyclo-N5−

Abstract Polynitrogen compounds contain a large amount of N N and N=N, and their decomposition products are mainly nitrogen, with the advantages of high density, high heat, high energy and pollution-free products. Such compounds have potential application prospects and are candidates for a new generation of energetic materials. The pentazolate anion, or cyclo-N5−, which is the first polynitrogen anion of azoles, has an impressive stable aromatic structure and has become a hot topic. In this review, we summary the research progress of pentazole synthesis in recent years, including the precursors, synthesis, properties and derivatives, which involves the following topics: (1) the preparation of cyclo-N5−; (2) synthesis of pentazole complexes; (3) properties and derivatives of cyclo-N5−. This review is intended to improve the understanding of pentazole for their further development and applications.