Isopropyl nitrate

Isoprene [78-79-5] (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) is a colorless, volatile Hquid that is soluble in most hydrocarbons but is practically insoluble in water. Isoprene forms binary azeotropes with water, methanol, methylamine, acetonitrile, methyl formate, bromoethane, ethyl alcohol, methyl sulfide, acetone, propylene oxide, ethyl formate, isopropyl nitrate, methyla1 (dimethoxymethane), ethyl ether, and / -pentane. Ternary azeotropes form with water—acetone, water—acetonitrile, and methyl formate—ethyl bromide (8). Typical properties of isoprene are Hsted in Table 1. 

Isopropyl nitrate [1712-64-7] can be prepared by the reaction of isopropyl alcohol with nitric acid [52583-42-3]. 

The reactants are fed separately iato a stUl, from which the product is continuously removed by distillation (qv) (31). Isopropyl nitrate is a valuable engiae-starter fuel and can be used ia explosives (see Explosives and propellants) (32). The nitrite ester, isopropyl nitrite, can be prepared from the reaction of isopropyl alcohol and either nitrosyl chloride or nitrous acid at ambient temperature (33). The ester is used as a jet engine propellant (30). 

Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals Isopropyl nitrate... 

Compatibility of Isopropyl Nitrate with Rubbers and Synthetic Materials. 

Propyl and Isopropyl Nitrates , Imp Chem Inds Ltd, Stevenston (Engl) (1957) 5) M.G. 

M.G. Farey, The Gas Chromatographic Determination of Isopropyl Nitrate in Slurry Explosives , Rept No ERDE-TN-41, Waltham Ab bey (Engl) (1971) 4)J. Diederichse n ... 

A. Clarkson D. Wilson, The Examination of Combustion Residues of Isopropyl Nitrate. 

Because of unclear instructions, 120 iitres of concentrated nitric acid (instead of 2.6%) was fed into a reactor, which contained 5 litres of 2-propanol. The mixture detonated violently and caused the installation to be destroyed. It was assumed that isopropyl nitrate was present. 

Isopropyl nitrate combusts when it decomposes. It is a very good propellant for rockets (CHETAH factor C3 = -68 g%). However, it is rather dangerous to store. This is the reason why it is no longer used very often. 

More recently isopropyl nitrate has been used in place of TNT for sensitising dense slurries. Although not itself explosive, this liquid gives a sensitivity at least equal to that obtained with TNT, whilst at the same time reducing the proportion of aqueous base and therefore water needed in the composition. Dense slurries have also been made with such ingredients as pentolite and smokeless powder as sensitisers but these have no special advantages and are usually uneconomic. 

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