Pentaerythritol tetranitrate

explosive chemical compound

Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), also known as PENT, PENTA, TEN, corpent, penthrite (or — rarely and primarily in German — as nitropenta) is one of the most powerful high explosives known. It has a relative effectiveness factor (R.E. factor) of 1.66.[1] PETN can be used as a plastic explosive.[2][3][4][5][6] PETN can also be use as a drug to treat certain heart conditions, such as angina pectoris.[7] In this context, it helps widening blood vessels, which is known as vasodilatation. PETN is among the most widely used substances for vasodilatation.[8]

It is the nitrate ester of pentaerythritol (related pages, nitrate, ester). It has a chemical structure that is very similar to nitroglycerin.

References

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  1. "PETN (Pentaerythritol tetranitrate)". Retrieved 2010-03-29.
  2. Jsu, Spencer, S., "Equipment to detect explosives is available,"The Washington Post, December 28, 2009, accessed January 9, 2010
  3. "Paperny, Anna Mehler, "Foiled attack on U.S. plane leaves airport chaos in its wake, The Globe and Mail, December 29, 2009, accessed January 9, 2010". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on January 4, 2010. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  4. The Big Question: Will body scanners in airports reduce the threat from terrorism? - Big Question, Extras Archived 2010-01-09 at the Wayback Machine. The Independent. Retrieved on 2010-02-08.
  5. Analysis: Similar explosive on plane used in Saudi attack - CNN.com Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine. Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved on 2010-02-08.
  6. Revkin, Andrew C.. (1996-08-30) Crash Simulation Sets T.W.A. Blast In One Small Area. NYTimes.com. Retrieved on 2010-02-08.
  7. Joseph Riseman; et al. (1958). "Nitroglycerin and other nitrites in the treatment of Angina Pectoris - Comparison of six preparations and four routes of administration" (PDF). Circulation. 17 (17): 22–39. doi:10.1161/01.CIR.17.1.22. PMID 13511619. S2CID 309401.
  8. Giesberger; et al. (2009). "Bioactivation of pentaerythritol tetranitrate by mitochodrial aldehyde dehydrogenase" (PDF). BMC Pharmacology (9).