Erythritol tetranitrate
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name [(2R,3R)-1,3,4-Trinitrooxybutan-2-yl] nitrate | |
| Other names Erythrityl tetranitrate (INN) | |
| Identifiers | |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
| 1730082 | |
| ChEBI | |
| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| DrugBank | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.027.940 | 
| EC Number | 
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| KEGG | |
| PubChem CID | |
| UNII | |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| 
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| 
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| Properties | |
| C4H6N4O12 | |
| Molar mass | 302.108 g·mol−1 | 
| Density | 1.7219 (±0.0025) g/cm3 | 
| Melting point | 61 °C (142 °F; 334 K) | 
| Boiling point | Decomposes at 160 °C | 
| 0.00302 g/100 mL | |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling: | |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Explosive data | |
| Shock sensitivity | Medium (2.0 Nm) | 
| Friction sensitivity | Medium | 
| Detonation velocity | 8200 m/s | 
| RE factor | 1.60 | 
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references | |
Erythritol tetranitrate (ETN) is an explosive compound chemically similar to PETN, though it is thought to be slightly more sensitive to friction and impact.
Like many nitrate esters, ETN acts as a vasodilator, and was the active ingredient in the original "sustained release" tablets, made under a process patent in the early 1950s, called "nitroglyn". Ingesting ETN or prolonged skin contact can lead to absorption and what is known as a "nitro headache".