Ten oxetanes bearing various substituents were reacted with N2O5 in chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents to yield 1, 3-dinitrate esters (I) by ring-opening nitration. The yields ranged from 73 to 88% for di-/trinitrates derived from oxetanes unsubstituted in the 2- position, to only 15 to 21% for oxetanes bearing such substituents. Although selective ring cleavage of oxetanes bearing non-hydroxylic substituents (epoxy (oxiranyl), spiro-oxetane ...