A convenient synthesis of nitrogen‐15 and deuterium labelled octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine (HMX)

Abstract The preparation of pure octahydro‐1,3,5,7‐tetranitro‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine (HMX) labelled with nitrogen‐15 and deuterium was accomplished by sequential nitrolysis of appropriately labelled octahydro‐1,5‐diacetyl‐3,7‐endomethylene‐1,3,5,7‐tetrazocine. The latter compounds were obtained from the reaction of acetic anhydride with hexamethylenetetramine that was specifically labelled by the reaction of the appropriate formaldehyde and ammonia.