theory based on propionitrile see also j am chem soc 74 5524 1952 further the yields of rdx obtained by nitrolysis of 1 3 5 tripropionylhexahydro s triazine with concentrated nitric acid as reported in u s pat no 3 178 430 range from about 20 to about 75 of theory it is evident from the foregoing that the present invention by effecting the nitrolysis of the triazine intermediate without isolation and purificaton thereof from the reaction mixture in which it is formed provides a simpler process which can produce rdx in high purity and without loss of rdx yield from the initial nitrile further in the present process by eliminating the use of added solvents in the reaction of the nitrile and formaldehyde to form the triazine intermediate the by product contaminants are the respective carboxylic acid of the nitrile and or derivatives of the nitrile and formaldehyde these by product contaminants are water soluble whereas the rdx is water soluble so that the rdx can be isolated in high purity by diluting the nitration mixture with water and separating the rdx from the aqueous mixture containing the dissolved impurities e g by filtration in similar manner nitriles of the foregoing general formula.