Nitramide


Nitramide is a chemical compound with the molecular formula H2NNO2. Organyl derivatives of nitramide, RNHNO2 are termed nitroamines, and are widely used as explosives: examples include RDX and HMX. It is a tautomer of hyponitrous acid.

Structure

The nitramide molecule is essentially an amine group bonded to a nitro group. It is reported to be non-planar in the gas phase, but planar in the crystal phase.

Synthesis

Thiele and Lachman's original synthesis of nitramide involved the hydrolysis of potassium nitrocarbamate:
Other routes to nitramide include hydrolysis of nitrocarbamic acid,
reaction of sodium sulfamate with nitric acid,
and reaction of dinitrogen pentoxide with two equivalents of ammonia.

Organic nitramides

Also called nitramines, organic nitramides are important explosives. They are prepared by nitrolysis of hexamethylenetetramine.
is a widely used explosive.