Synthesis of HMX
HMX is a very powerful military explosive with similar properties to RDX, the other great military explosive with which it is often mixed. HMX is itself an acronym for either High velocity Military eXplosive, or Her Majesties eXplosive depending on what country you are in. HMX is very stable, it requires a powerful detonator or booster charge to detonate. It was first developed during WWII in the never ending search for more powerful bombs.
| C4H8N8O8 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| m.p. | dec. 281 °C | mass | 296.16 g/mol | v.det. | 9110 m/s |
| b.p. | --- °C | den. | 1.903 g/mL | CAS# | 2691-41-0 |
- cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine
- EDC 24
- Her Majesties Explosive
- high velocity military explosive
- b-HMX
- HMX 2
- Homocyclonite
- HW 4
- IRX 21
- JO 9159
- JO-X
- LX 14
- LX 14-0
- Octagen
- g-octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetraazocine
- octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine
- octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-s-tetrazocine
- Octogen
- Okfol
- Oktoflen
- Oktogen
- ORA 86B
- PBXC 119
- PBXC 121
- PBXC 126
- PBXC 129
- PBXK-C 1203
- PBXN 101
- PBXN 110
- PBXN 112
- PBXN 5
- PBXN 9
- PBXW 11
- PBXW 113
- PBXW 128
- Renowex 1001
- Rowanex 2000
- Rowanex 3000
- SW 21
- tetramethylenetetranitramine
- 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazacyclooctane
- 1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocane
- 1,3,5,7-tetrazocine, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-
Prepare a solution of 748 mL of glacial acetic acid, 12 mL of acetic anhydride, and 17 g of paraformaldehyde, keep this solution at 44 °C while mixing. Prepare a second solution of 217.6 g of ammonium nitrate and 154.6 mL of 99% nitric acid in a 500-mL beaker. Prepare a third solution of 101 g of methenamine, 157 mL of glacial acetic acid, and 296 mL of acetic anhydride in a 1000-mL beaker. Combine the third solution with 112.5 mL of the second solution. Add this combined solution to the first solution over a 15 minute period while stirring rapidly. After the addition, continue stirring for an additional 15 minutes. Next, carefully add 296 mL of acetic anhydride, then carefully add the remainder of the second solution, then add another 148 mL of acetic anhydride, all while stirring. Continue the stirring for 1 hour more. After stirring, add 350 mL of hot water and reflux the whole works for 30 minutes. After this time, cool the liquid down to 20 °C by adding ice. Decant off as much of the liquid from the precipitate as possible and drown the remaining crystals with cold water. Filter to collect the crystals of HMX and wash them with three portions of cold water, allow to dry. The yield is about 95%. You will need a graduated cylinder for measuring liquids, a stirring rod or magnetic stirrer for mixing, and a thermometer to monitor the temperature.
Owing to the large volume of reactants in this lab, in excess of 2.5 L, it is necessary to use a 5-L flask, unfortunately this is beyond most laboratories, and especially the home chemist. This reaction can be carried out in a glass gallon jug or similar large capacity glass container. The refluxing step can be done in portions using a round-bottomed 500-mL Florence flask.
While a good faith effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all scientific information presented on this page, the possibility exists that some errors have invaded the machine. Furthermore, there may be certain omissions of physical properties, reaction conditions, necessary equipment, storage and handling requirements, and critical safety data. As with any scientific endeavor, especially chemistry, the necessary safety precautions should be observed at all times.
Errors are not allowed to persist in the Chem Lab once they have been discovered, but your help is needed to find them. If you observe an error in any lab, or a critical omission of special safety precautions, and you can provide a published reference to support your claim, please submit your correction via the error reporting form. Additionally, please use the form to provide missing information such as boiling points, densities, etc. If you have written, or have references to, alternate methods of synthesis, or improvements in the synthesis of any chemical in the Chem Lab, please take advantage of the "Submit your Science" page to have your contribution published on the site.
If you have comments, additions, clarifications, or observations that you wish to add about this compound and its method of synthesis, post them in The Forum using the link below . You must be a registered member of The Forum to make posts, which is open for all to register.
