R. Meyer J. Köhler A. Homburg Explosives

Tetramethylolcyclopentanone Tetranitrate
oxygen balance: –129.2%
nitrogen content: 20.57%
During the Second World War, this compound was utilized as a fuel
component in fusible ammonium nitrate mixtures. It can be homogeneously
incorporated into the melt.
Tetramethylolcyclopentanone Tetranitrate
Nitropentanon; tétranitrate de tétraméthylolcyclopentanone; Fivonite
colorless crystals
empirical formula: C9H12N4O13
molecular weight: 384.2
energy of formation: –398.2 kcal/kg = –1666 kJ/kg
enthalpy of formation: – 420.6 kcal/kg = –1760 kJ/kg
oxygen balance: – 45.8%
nitrogen content: 14.59%
density: 1.59 g/cm 3
melting point: 74 °C = 165 °F
lead block test: 387 cm 3 /10 g
detonation velocity, confined:
7040 m/s = 23100 ft/s at r = 1.55 g/cm 3
Condensation of formaldehyde with cyclopentanone yields a compound
with four –CH2OH groups, which can be nitrated to the tetranitrate.
Analogous derivatives of hexanone, hexanol, and pentanol can
be prepared in the same manner, but in the case of pentanol and
hexanone the fifth hydroxyl group also becomes esterified:
tetramethylolcyclohexanol pentanitrate “Sixolite”;
tetramethylolcyclohexanone tetranitrate “Sixonite”;
tetramethylolcyclopentanol pentanitrate “Fivolite”.
Table 27. Thermochemical data
Compound Empirical
Formula
Molecular
Weight
Oxygen
Balance
% kcal/
kg
Energy of
Formation
kJ/kg kcal/
kg
Enthalpy of
Formation
kJ/kg
Sixolite C10H15N5O15 445.3 – 44.9 –334 –1397 –357 –1494
Sixonite C10H14N4O13 398.2 –56.3 – 402 –1682 – 425 –1778
Fivolite C9H13N5O15 431.2 –35.3 –325 –1360 –348 –1456
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