Nitrate ester
In
Synthesis and reactions
Nitrate esters are typically prepared by condensation of nitric acid and the alcohol:[1][2] For example, the simplest nitrate ester, methyl nitrate, is formed by reaction of methanol and nitric acid in the presence of sulfuric acid:[3]
Formation of a nitrate ester is called a nitrooxylation (less commonly, nitroxylation).
Explosive properties
The thermal decomposition of nitrate esters mainly yields the gases molecular nitrogen (N2) and carbon dioxide. The considerable chemical energy of the detonation is due to the high strength of the bond in molecular nitrogen. This stoichiometry is illustrated by the equation for the detonation of nitroglycerin.
Illustrative of the highly sensitive nature of some organic nitrates is Si(CH2ONO2)4.
Medical use
The nitrate esters
Related compounds
Acetyl nitrate is a nitrate anhydride, being derived from the condensation of nitric and acetic acids.
References
- ^ Snyder, H. R.; Handrick, R. G.; Brooks, L. A. (1942). "Imidazole". Organic Syntheses; Collected Volumes, vol. 3, p. 471.
- ISSN 0009-2665.
- ^ Alvin P. Black & Frank H. Babers. "Methyl nitrate". Organic Syntheses; Collected Volumes, vol. 2, p. 412.
- ^ Sila-Explosives Offer A Better Bang Stephen K. Ritter Chemical & Engineering News May 7 2007Link