Trinitroanisole
Encyclopedia
Trinitroanisole is a chemical compound
that exists as pale yellow crystals with a melting point
of 68.4 °C. It is an explosive with a detonation velocity of 7200 meters per second
.
in the presence of sodium hydroxide followed by the nitration
of the resulting product. Alternatively, it can be prepared directly by the reaction of picryl chloride
with methanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide.
explosive, however, due to its tendency to form picric acid
and dangerous picrate
salts, its use has largely been abandoned.
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
that exists as pale yellow crystals with a melting point
Melting point
The melting point of a solid is the temperature at which it changes state from solid to liquid. At the melting point the solid and liquid phase exist in equilibrium. The melting point of a substance depends on pressure and is usually specified at standard atmospheric pressure...
of 68.4 °C. It is an explosive with a detonation velocity of 7200 meters per second
Second
The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock....
.
Synthesis
Trinitroanisole can be prepared by the reaction of 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene with methanolMethanol
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a chemical with the formula CH3OH . It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor very similar to, but slightly sweeter than, ethanol...
in the presence of sodium hydroxide followed by the nitration
Nitration
Nitration is a general chemical process for the introduction of a nitro group into a chemical compound. The dominant application of nitration is for the production of nitrobenzene, the precursor to methylene diphenyl diisocyanate...
of the resulting product. Alternatively, it can be prepared directly by the reaction of picryl chloride
Picryl Chloride
Picryl chloride is an explosive also known as 2-chloro-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene or 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene . Its empirical formula is C6H2ClN3O6. Its detonation velocity is 7,200 m/s....
with methanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide.
Use
Historically, trinitroanisole was used as a militaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
explosive, however, due to its tendency to form picric acid
Picric acid
Picric acid is the chemical compound formally called 2,4,6-trinitrophenol . This yellow crystalline solid is one of the most acidic phenols. Like other highly nitrated compounds such as TNT, picric acid is an explosive...
and dangerous picrate
Picrate
A picrate is a salt or an ester of picric acid . But it could also be an additional compound which picric acid forms with many aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, aliphatic amines, alkalines, and other compounds. These additional compounds are also called picrates even though they are not a...
salts, its use has largely been abandoned.