Nitrosative cleavage of 1-acetoxymethyl-3,5-dinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine by dinitrogen tetraoxide

Abstract

The kinetics of formation of 1,3-dinitro-5-nitrosoperhydro-1,3,5-triazine show first-order dependence upon 1-acetoxymethyl-3,5-dinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine and upon dinitrogen tetraoxide. A mechanism involving attack by an ion pair is suggested. The product can be converted into 1,3,5-trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) with nitric acid but this reaction is unlikely to involve an oxidation process.