Methods for the production of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene

1. A method of producing 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitro-benzene, comprising:

heating a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound solution consisting of a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound and at least one solvent to a temperature of from approximately 30° C. to approximately 110° C. in a pressure vessel; and

pressurizing the pressure vessel with an aminating agent to a pressure of from approximately 30 pounds per square inch to approximately 120 pounds per square inch to react the 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound in the heated 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound solution with the aminating agent to produce a 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene solution.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound solution consisting of a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound and at least one solvent to a temperature of from approximately 30° C. to approximately 110° C. in a pressure vessel comprises heating 1,3,5-trimethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, 1,3,5-triethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, 1,3,5-tripropoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, or combinations thereof in the at least one solvent.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound solution consisting of a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound and at least one solvent to a temperature of from approximately 30° C. to approximately 110° C. in a pressure vessel comprises heating the 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound in toluene, mesitylene, xylene, ethyl acetate, sulfolane, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound solution consisting of a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound and at least one solvent to a temperature of from approximately 30° C. to approximately 110° C. in a pressure vessel comprises heating the 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound solution to a temperature of from approximately 60° C. to approximately 110° C.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound solution consisting of a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound and at least one solvent to a temperature of from approximately 30° C. to approximately 110° C. in a pressure vessel comprises heating the 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound solution to a temperature of from approximately 80° C. to approximately 100° C.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein heating a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound solution consisting of a 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound and at least one solvent to a temperature of from approximately 30° C. to approximately 110° C. in a pressure vessel comprises heating the 1,3,5-trialkoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene compound solution to a temperature of approximately 90° C.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the pressure vessel with an aminating agent to a pressure of from approximately 30 pounds per square inch to approximately 120 pounds per square inch comprises pressurizing the pressure vessel with the aminating agent at a pressure of from approximately 40 pounds per square inch to approximately 100 pounds per square inch.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the pressure vessel with an aminating agent to a pressure of from approximately 30 pounds per square inch to approximately 120 pounds per square inch comprises pressurizing the pressure vessel with the aminating agent at a pressure of from approximately 40 pounds per square inch to approximately 60 pounds per square inch.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the pressure vessel with an aminating agent to a pressure of from approximately 30 pounds per square inch to approximately 120 pounds per square inch comprises pressurizing the pressure vessel with the aminating agent at a pressure of approximately 60 pounds per square inch.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein pressurizing the pressure vessel with an aminating agent comprises pressurizing the pressure vessel with ammonia or ammonium hydroxide.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising cooling the 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene solution to precipitate the 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising washing the 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene with water or isopropanol.

13. A method of producing 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitro-benzene, comprising:

heating a 1,3,5-triethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene solution consisting of 1,3,5-triethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene and toluene to a temperature of approximately 90° C. in a pressure vessel; and

pressurizing the pressure vessel with ammonia to a pressure of approximately 60 pounds per square inch to react the 1,3,5-triethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene in the heated 1,3,5-triethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene solution to produce 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene.

14. A method of producing 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitro-benzene, comprising:

introducing a 1,3,5-triethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene solution consisting of 1,3,5-triethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene and at least one solvent into a pressure vessel;

sealing the pressure vessel;

heating the 1,3,5-triethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene solution to a temperature of approximately 90° C.;

pressurizing the pressure vessel with ammonia to a total reactor pressure of approximately 60 pounds per square inch; and

reacting the 1,3,5-triethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene with the ammonia to produce 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene.

15. The method of claim 3 , wherein the at least one solvent further comprises water.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding seed crystals to the pressure vessel.