1-Amino-2-nitroguanidine (ANQ) is a high-energy nitrogen-rich compound with good detonation properties and low sensitivities. ANQ has only a central carbon atom with three small groups around it, including an amino, a hydrazine and a nitroxyl group. Though the molecular structure of ANQ is very simple, its reactivity is surprisingly abundant. ANQ can undergo various reactions, including reduction reaction, acylation reaction, salification reaction, coordination reaction, aldimine condensation reaction, cyclization reaction and azide reaction. Many new energetic compounds were purposely obtained through these reactions. These reactions were systematically summarized in this review, and detonation properties of some energetic compounds were compared. In the field of energetic materials, ANQ and some derivatives exhibit good application prospects.
Keywords: 1-Amino-2-nitroguanidine (ANQ); derivatives; energetic materials; energetic properties.