Heterocyclization of hydrazine-1,2-bis(N-2-nitrocarboximidamide) and salts derived therefrom provides a procedure for the synthesis of 3,5-bis(nitroamino)-1,2,4-triazole salts. The presence of two acceptor nitroamino groups conjugated with the triazole ring considerably enhances the acidity of 3,5-bis(nitroamino)-1,2,4-triazole (pK(a)(1) = -2.0, pK(a)(2) = 4.8, pK(a)(3) = 10.6) as compared to mononitroaminotriazole, so that formation of salts with the corresponding dianion becomes possible.