Mannitol hexanitrate is a powerful explosive. Physically, it is a powdery solid at normal temperature ranges, with density of 1.73 g/cm3. The chemical name is hexanitromannitol and it is also known as nitromannite, MHN, and nitromannitol, and by the trademarks Nitranitol and Mannitrin. It is more stable than nitroglycerin, and it is used in detonators.

Mannitol hexanitrate
Names
IUPAC name
D-Mannitol hexanitrate
Systematic IUPAC name
(2R,3R,4R,5R)-Hexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexayl hexanitrate
Other names
Mannitol hexanitrate
Nitromannite
Nitromannitol
Nitranitol
Mannitrin
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.036.280 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 239-924-6
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C6H8N6O18/c13-7(14)25-1-3(27-9(17)18)5(29-11(21)22)6(30-12(23)24)4(28-10(19)20)2-26-8(15)16/h3-6H,1-2H2/t3-,4-,5-,6-/m1/s1 ☒N
    Key: DGMJZELBSFOPHH-KVTDHHQDSA-N ☒N
  • InChI=1/C6H8N6O18/c13-7(14)25-1-3(27-9(17)18)5(29-11(21)22)6(30-12(23)24)4(28-10(19)20)2-26-8(15)16/h3-6H,1-2H2/t3-,4-,5-,6-/m1/s1
    Key: DGMJZELBSFOPHH-KVTDHHQDBN
  • C([C@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@@H](CO[N+](=O)[O-])O[N+](=O)[O-])O[N+](=O)[O-])O[N+](=O)[O-])O[N+](=O)[O-])O[N+](=O)[O-]
Properties
C6H8N6O18
Molar mass 452.15 g/mol
Density 1.73 g/cm3
Melting point 112 °C (234 °F; 385 K)
insoluble
Explosive data
Shock sensitivity more sensitive than PETN, slightly below the line separating primary and secondary explosives
Friction sensitivity comparable to PETN
Detonation velocity 8260 m/s (@ 1.73 g/cm3)
RE factor 1.70
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Mannitol hexanitrate is a secondary explosive formed by the nitration of mannitol, a sugar alcohol. The product is used in medicine as a vasodilator and as an explosive in blasting caps. Its sensitivity is high, particularly at high temperatures (> 75 °C) where it is slightly more sensitive than nitroglycerine. Nitromannite is a class B explosive.

The production of pure MHN is not a trivial task, since most preparations will yield a mixture of MHN and lower esters (pentanitrate and lower).[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Künzel, Martin; Yan, Qi-Long; Šelešovský, Jakub; Zeman, Svatopluk; Matyáš, Robert (2014-01-01). "Thermal behavior and decomposition kinetics of ETN and its mixtures with PETN and RDX". Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 115 (1): 289–299. doi:10.1007/s10973-013-3265-2. ISSN 1388-6150. S2CID 95382460.
  • The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives, Tenney L. Davis
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