Nitrolysis

Nitrolysis is a chemical reaction involving cleavage ("lysis") of a chemical bond concomitant with installation of a nitro group (NO2).

Typical reagents for effecting this conversion are nitric acid and acetyl nitrate.

A commercially important nitrolysis reaction is the conversion of hexamine to nitramide.

Nitrolysis of hexamine is also used to produce RDX, (O2NNCH2)3, a trinitramide widely used as an explosive.

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RDX is a widely used explosive material that is produced by the nitrolysis reaction of hexamine.