Thermal decomposition of some polynitrocompounds in the gas phase

Abstract

Gas phase decomposition of tetranitromethane, hexanitroethane, chloro-, bromo-, iodo-trinitromethane and dichlorodinitromethane has been studied over a temperature range from 100° to 160°C using a manometric method. The reactions were found to be homogeneous and first order. The rates were independent of vapour pressures and of nitric oxide, nitrogen peroxide and iodine additions. The parameters of the Arrhenius equation have been determined and a qualitative analysis of the decomposition products has been carried out. The results are interpreted in terms of a radical non-chain mechanism, the C N bond scission being the first step.