9731. Trinitrotriazidobenzene

Nomenclature

CAS number: 29306-57-8
1,3,5-Triazido-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene; TNTA.
C6N12O6; mol wt 336.14.
C 21.44%, N 50.00%, O 28.56%.

Description and references

Nontoxic, metal-free, high energy density material. Explodes to produce gaseous nitrogen and carbon dioxide. Prepn: I. O. Turek, Chim. Ind. (Paris) 26, 785 (1931). Use as a fixative in immunofluorescence microscopy: E. McBeath, K. Fujiwara, J. Cell Biol. 99, 2061 (1984). Thermal decompn studies: A. D. Yoffe, Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. A 208, 188 (1951); D. Adam et al., Heteroat. Chem. 10, 548 (1999). Synthesis, crystal structure, and detonation properties: idem et al., Propellants Explos. Pyrotech. 27, 7 (2002).

Chemical structure

Properties

Bright yellow plates from acetic acid, mp 128-130° (dec). d 1.84. Explosive.

Caution

Sensitive to electrostatic discharge, friction and impact; rapid heating above 168° causes explosion (Adam, 2002).

Use

Initiator or solid rocket propellant in military explosives.