Pentanitroaniline
Encyclopedia
Pentanitroaniline is an explosive organic compound
. It is a relatively sensitive explosive (much more so than TNT) that can be used as a base charge for detonators, although it is uncommon in this application.
Pentanitroaniline can be reacted with ammonia
in benzene
, dichloromethane
or another similar solvent
to produce triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB), an insensitive high explosive, used in nuclear bombs and other critical applications.
Pentanitroaniline is regulated by the United States Department of Transportation
(DoT) as a "forbidden explosive" that is too dangerous to transport over public thoroughfares or by air.
Organic compound
An organic compound is any member of a large class of gaseous, liquid, or solid chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon. For historical reasons discussed below, a few types of carbon-containing compounds such as carbides, carbonates, simple oxides of carbon, and cyanides, as well as the...
. It is a relatively sensitive explosive (much more so than TNT) that can be used as a base charge for detonators, although it is uncommon in this application.
Pentanitroaniline can be reacted with ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
in benzene
Benzene
Benzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
, dichloromethane
Dichloromethane
Dichloromethane is an organic compound with the formula CH2Cl2. This colorless, volatile liquid with a moderately sweet aroma is widely used as a solvent. Although it is not miscible with water, it is miscible with many organic solvents...
or another similar solvent
Solvent
A solvent is a liquid, solid, or gas that dissolves another solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution that is soluble in a certain volume of solvent at a specified temperature...
to produce triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB), an insensitive high explosive, used in nuclear bombs and other critical applications.
Pentanitroaniline is regulated by the United States Department of Transportation
United States Department of Transportation
The United States Department of Transportation is a federal Cabinet department of the United States government concerned with transportation. It was established by an act of Congress on October 15, 1966, and began operation on April 1, 1967...
(DoT) as a "forbidden explosive" that is too dangerous to transport over public thoroughfares or by air.