Hexamethylenetetramine Detection

Acid—Base Chemistry. Acetic acid dissociates in water, pK = 4.76 at 25°C. It is a mild acid which can be used for analysis of bases too weak to detect in water (26). It readily neutralizes the ordinary hydroxides of the alkaU metals and the alkaline earths to form the corresponding acetates. When the cmde material pyroligneous acid is neutralized with limestone or magnesia the commercial acetate of lime or acetate of magnesia is obtained (7). Acetic acid accepts protons only from the strongest acids such as nitric acid and sulfuric acid. Other acids exhibit very powerful, superacid properties in acetic acid solutions and are thus useful catalysts for esterifications of olefins and alcohols (27). Nitrations conducted in acetic acid solvent are effected because of the formation of the nitronium ion, NO Hexamethylenetetramine [100-97-0] may be nitrated in acetic acid solvent to yield the explosive cycl o trim ethyl en etrin itram in e [121 -82-4] also known as cyclonit or RDX. 

According to Somlo [16] the action of a 4% solution of NaOH at 60°C produces the total decomposition of cyclonite after 5 hr. Somlo also studied the decomposition of cyclonite by concentrated sodium hydroxide and found it to be complete within 2-4 hr at 60°C. Among the decomposition products he detected nitrates, nitrites, organic acids, ammonia, nitrogen, formaldehyde and hexamethylenetetramine. 

The "soft" ionization MS techniques of and FAB have been employed successfully for quantitative applications with stable-isotope-labeled internal standards and interesting developments in the use of microwave plasma discharges, either alone or in combination with mass spectrometic detection, promise to extend the utility of stable isotope labeling methods in quantitative studies of drug dispositon. New methods have been reported for the measurement of N enrichment in ammonia, based on conversion into hexamethylenetetramine, and for the... 

Harthon [28] was the first to apply TLC to problems of control of the nitration of hexamethylenetetramine to yield hexogen (RDX) (Bachmann synthesis) and of detection of the side products which are formed. 30 [xg amounts in methanolic solution of each of the nitro-... 

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