N,N'-bis(4,4,4-trinitrobutyryl)hydrazine

A process for preparing N,N'-bis(4,4,4-trinitrobutyryl)hydrazine comprising:

• (1) forming a reaction solution at a temperature of from about -40.degree. C. to about -90.degree. C. by mixing
• (a) a solution of hydrazine dissolved in a lower molecular weight alcohol that is methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, or mixtures thereof with
• (b) a solution of 4,4,4-trinitrobutyryl chloride,
• wherein the mole ratio of hydrazine to 4,4,4-trinitrobutyryl chloride is from about 1.25:1 to about 1.80:1;
• (2) placing the reaction solution formed in step (1) into an ambient temperature environment and allowing the reaction mixture to warm up to a temperature of from about -5.degree. C. to about 25.degree. C.;
• and then
• (3) isolating the product N,N'-bis(4,4,4-trinitrobutyryl)hydrazine.