Hexanitroethane

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title: "Hexanitroethane" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["nitroalkanes", "explosive-chemicals", "pyrotechnic-oxidizers"] topic_path: "general/nitroalkanes" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexanitroethane" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

| verifiedrevid = 427197267 | Name = | ImageFile = Hexanitroethane.png | ImageFile1 = Hexanitroethane-3D-vdW.png | ImageSize = 200px | PIN = Hexanitroethane | OtherNames = | Section1 = {{Chembox Identifiers | ChemSpiderID_Ref = | ChemSpiderID = 55174 | InChI = 1/C2N6O12/c9-3(10)1(4(11)12,5(13)14)2(6(15)16,7(17)18)8(19)20 | InChIKey = CCAKQXWHJIKAST-UHFFFAOYAX | StdInChI_Ref = | StdInChI = 1S/C2N6O12/c9-3(10)1(4(11)12,5(13)14)2(6(15)16,7(17)18)8(19)20 | StdInChIKey_Ref = | StdInChIKey = CCAKQXWHJIKAST-UHFFFAOYSA-N | CASNo_Ref = | CASNo=918-37-6 | PubChem=61232 | EINECS= 213-042-1 | SMILES=C(C(N+[O-])(N+[O-])N+[O-])(N+[O-])(N+[O-])N+[O-] | Section2 = {{Chembox Properties | Formula=C2N6O12 | MolarMass=300.0544 | Appearance= | Density= | MeltingPtC=135 | BoilingPt= | Solubility= | Section3 = {{Chembox Hazards | MainHazards= | FlashPt= | AutoignitionPt = | Section4 = | Section5 = | Section6 = | Section8 = {{Chembox Related | OtherCompounds = Nitroethane Tetranitromethane Trinitromethane Hexanitrobenzene Octanitrocubane

Hexanitroethane (HNE) is an organic compound with chemical formula C2N6O12 or (O2N)3C-C(NO2)3. It is a solid matter with a melting point of 135 °C.

Hexanitroethane is used in some pyrotechnic compositions as a nitrogen-rich oxidizer, e.g. in some decoy flare compositions and some propellants. Like hexanitrobenzene, HNE has been investigated as a gas source for explosively pumped gas dynamic lasers.

A composition of HNE as oxidizer with boron as fuel is being investigated as a new explosive.Compatibility Testing of Hexanitroethane with Boron

Preparation

The first synthesis was described by Wilhelm Will in 1914, using the reaction between the potassium salt of tetranitroethane with nitric acid.

:C2(NO2)4K2 + 4 HNO3 → C2(NO2)6 + 2 KNO3 + 2 H2O A practicable method for industrial use starts with furfural, which first undergoes oxidative ring-opening by bromine to mucobromic acid. In the following step, mucobromic acid is reacted with potassium nitrite at just below room temperature to form the dipotassium salt of 2,3,3-trinitropropanal. The final product is obtained by nitration with nitric acid and sulfuric acid at −60 °C.

:[[File:Hexanitroethane_synthesis.svg|500px]]

Properties

The thermal decomposition of hexanitroethane has been detected at 60 °C upwards in both the solid and solution phases. Above 140 °C, this can occur explosively. The decomposition is first order and is significantly faster in solution than in the solid. For the solid, the following reaction can be formulated:

:C2(NO2)6 → 3 NO2 + NO + N2O + 2 CO2 For the decomposition in solution, tetranitroethylene is first formed and can be trapped and detected as a Diels–Alder adduct, for example with anthracene or cyclopentadiene.

:[[File:Hexanitroethane_reactions01.svg|500px]]

References

References

1. Will, W.. (1914). "Über das Hexanitro-äthan". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft.
2. "Synthesis of hexanitroethane".
3. Taylor, G.. (2015). "MUCOBROMIC ACID". Organic Syntheses.
4. (1965). "Thermal Decomposition of Hexanitroethane 1a,b". The Journal of Physical Chemistry.
5. Bretherick, L.. (18 March 2017). "Bretherick's Handbook of Reactive Chemical hazards".
6. (1980). "Tetranitroethylene. In situ formation and Diels-Alder reactions". The Journal of Organic Chemistry.
7. (1983). "Reactions of hexanitroethane with alcohols". The Journal of Organic Chemistry.

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