1,3,5-Trichlorobenzene → 1,3,5-Trichloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene

Participants

Reaction Steps

Triaminotrinitrobenzene is an explosive having unusual insensitivity, stability at high temperature, and respectable performance. It is insoluble in organic solvents and has a melting point above 400° C. TATB was prepared in 1887 from tribromotrinitrobenzene. It has also been prepared on a laboratory scale from 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene through selective reduction of the 4-nitro group, nitration to pentanitroaniline, and then ammonolysis. Currently, the manufacture of TATB (1) on a large scale begins with 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene (TCB, 2) which is nitrated to give 1,3,5-trichloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TCTNB, 3) as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b hereof. The nitration step requires severe conditions of high temperature, long reaction time, and oleum, and results in significant quantities of by-products.

Provenance & Evidence