| Summary: | Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), CASRN 78-11-5, belongs to the class of compounds known as organic nitrates. It is used mainly as a demolition explosive and in the manufacture of detonating fuses and blasting caps (O'Neil, 2013; Lewis, 2007). Commercial PETN is usually mixed with plasticized nitrocellulose or synthetic rubber because PETN in its pure form is too sensitive to friction and impact (NCBI, 2021). PETN is one of the most powerful explosives known, and along with cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), it is the main ingredient in Semtex, a plastic explosive. Additionally, PETN is one of a number of organic nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin [NTG]) used therapeutically as coronary vasodilators in the treatment of cardiovascular conditions (angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure). However, PETN was removed from most markets as a treatment option in the early 1990s, with the notable exception of Eastern Europe, because clear evidence of its efficacy was lacking [for recent reviews]
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