3,5-Dinitroaniline

melting point ? °C	boiling point ? °C	3,5-dinitroaniline	molecular mass ? g/mol	density ? g/mL
table key	sensitivity ?	chemical formula X₂Y₃Z₄	explosive velocity ? m/s	estimated cost $?.00 /g

3,5-dinitroaniline is a moderately powerful high explosive of little renown. It was first prepared in 1891 from trinitrobenzene, and more recently from dinitrobenzoic acid. It has not, to my knowledge, ever been used in any military or commercial composition, although the Germans used isomers of dinitroaniline in admixture with TNT to make their bombs less brisant; a less brisant explosive produces larger shrapnel pieces. It also allowed the Germans to stretch their TNT supplies. It does have a use as the precursor for the explosive pentanitroaniline, and as an herbicide for the control of broadleaf weeds and annual grasses.

CHEMICALS APPARATUS

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Into a 2-L round-bottomed flask dissolve 106.1 g of 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid in 400 mL of 100% sulfuric acid containing 23-24% dissolved sulfur trioxide. After adding the dinitrobenzoic acid stir in 480 mL of dichloroethane. Slowly add 37 g of sodium azide in small portions, with stirring, while keeping the temperature below 25 C. Heat the mixture under reflux for 4 hours, and then allow it to cool to room temperature. Decant off as much of the dichloroethane as possible and pour the remaining mixture into a bucket containing 9 L of ice and water. This will cause the product to precipitate as yellow crystals. Filter to collect the crystals, wash them with cold water until no trace of acid remains, and allow to dry in the open. Final yield of 3,5-dinitroaniline is about 80 g or 88%.

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