Glycine Nitrate Synthesis

Glycine nitrate, or aminoacetic acid nitrate, is similar to urea nitrate and formed simply by treatment of glycine with nitric acid. The following info is from "PATR Vol. 1, pg. A178".

"H2N-CH2-COOH + HNO3, mw 138.08, mp ca 145 with evolution of gas. According to Thorpe, glycine nitrate is a powerful expl resembling PA in its props. On deton, it evolves a considerable amt of toxic carbon monoxide, as is shown by the equation: H2N-CH2-COOH-HNO3 ----> 2CO + 3H2O + N2"

First, 14g of glycine was weighed out and added to 15 ml water. It did not all dissolve, leaving a milky-looking solution. This was chilled to 5 degrees C. Then, 15 ml of 70% HNO3 was added to the solution and stirred, and the solution cleared as the glycine dissolved. Temperature was kept under 30 degrees C. This was then chilled to <0 C, and the crystals were filtered. The glycine nitrate was washed with cold alcohol several times and allowed to dry. Here is some of it drying.

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