The Use of theTrifluoroacetyl Protecting Group in the Synthesis of Mono‐ (4) and Di‐Amines (4,10) in the Polynitrohexaazaisowurtzitane Series

The first rational synthesis of the mono-amine 2,6,8,10,12-pentanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (II) and the di-amine 2,6,8,12-tetranitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (III) is described. Both syntheses exploit the selectivity, under nitrolysis conditions, between an N-acetyl group and an N-trifluoroacetyl group, and the ease with which an N-trifluoroacetyl group can be hydrolytically removed.