Nitroguanidine

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Nitroguanidine (NQ)(1-Nitroguanidine, Picrite, CH4N4O2, H2NC(NH)NHNO2) is a chemical compound. It is a white, crystalline solid. It melts at 255°C, decomposes at 250°C and is not flammable and a low sensitive explosive but detonation velocity is high.

It is used as an explosive propellant, notably in mixture as the smokeless powder triple-base - the nitroguanidine reduces the propellant's flash and flame temperature without sacrificing chamber pressure. It, and derivatives, are also used as insecticides, having a comparable effect to nicotine (generic names - clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam).

Nitroguanidine is manufactured from guanine, a naturally-occurring substance typically found in excrement, but found in high concentrations in bat droppings. Guanine is extracted from the droppings and is then oxidized to form guanidine[1]. Guanidine is then nitrated to form nitroguanidine. The detailed process used to perform industrial-scale synthesis is considered proprietary and is not available for public release. A laboratory synthesis involves the fusion of sulfamic acid with urea, followed by nitration of the formed guanidine sulfate.[2]

It is toxic and carcinogenic.

It is also used to make mutant bacterial cells for biosynthetic studies.


[edit] References

  1. ^ Strecker, A (1861). "Untersuchungen über die chemischen Beziehungen zwischen Guanin, Xanthin, Theobromin, Caffein und Kreatinin". Annalen der Chemie und Pharmacie 118: 151-177. 
  2. ^ Nitroguanidine: from sulphamic acid and urea. Axt, Sciencemadness Discussion Board (August 1, 2007).
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