Synthesis and Characterization of Diglycerol Tetranitrate (DGTN)—An Energetic Plasticizer for Use in Explosive and Propellant Formulations

<p>Diglycerol was nitrated using mixed acid conditions to give diglycerol tetranitrate and related coproducts. The product mixture was extracted in situ with methylene chloride and analyzed by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Results showed that the product mixture was a combination of two isomers of diglycerol tetranitrate, triglycerol pentanitrate, cyclotriglycerol trinitrate, and diglycerol trinitrate. The mixture of products is explained by the composition of the starting material and by associated side reactions that occur during nitration. This synthesis and analytical data will aid in better understanding diglycerol tetranitrate as a plasticizer in explosive and propellant formulations.