Synthesis of Ammonium Diaminopicrate (ADAP), a New Secondary Explosive

Amination of 1,3,5-trimethoxy-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene in toluene at elevated temperature has been shown to give predominantly the new explosive ammonium 3,5-diaminopicrate (ADAP, ammonium 3,5-diamino-2,4,6-trinitrophenolate), together with some TATB. ADAP has also been synthesized in high yield via selective, partial hydrolysis of the trimethoxytrinitrobenzene, followed by amination.