Pharma & Specialty Chemical Standards

1,3-Dinitroglycerin, IUPAC name 1,3-dinitrooxypropane, has molecular formula C3H6N2O8 and molecular weight 198.14 g/mol. It belongs to the nitrate ester class, characterized by two nitrate groups (-ONO2) attached to a propane-1,3-diol backbone. This compound exhibits high solubility in organic solvents, low melting point (−40°C), and high reactivity due to its energetic nitrate ester bonds. Though not currently approved for therapeutic use, its mechanism involves metabolic release of nitric oxide (NO), inducing smooth muscle relaxation via cyclic GMP elevation. Structural instability and explosive potential limit its pharmaceutical application, contrasting with trinitroglycerin's clinical use in vasodilation.