Abstract: Unsymmetrical nitro and fluoronitro acetals of the formulasROCH(CH.sub.3)OR'wherein R.noteq.R', but wherein both R and R' are selected from the group nsisting of-CH.sub.2 CXY(NO.sub.2), - CH.sub.2 C(NO.sub.2).sub.2 CH.sub.3,-ch.sub.2 cuvcxy(no.sub.2), and-CH.sub.2 CUVCWZCXY(NO.sub.2),wherein X and Y vary independently and are selected from the group consisting of F and NO.sub.2, and wherein U, V, W, and Z vary independently and are selected from the group consisting of H, F, and NO.sub.2, are useful as energetic plasticizers in rocket propellants or explosives.

Abstract: Acetals of the formulas CHCl.sub.2 CH(OR).sub.2, CCl.sub.3 CH(OR).sub.2, .sub.2 CH(OR).sub.2, CF.sub.3 CH(OR).sub.2, RO.sub.2 CCH(OR).sub.2, and (RO).sub.2 HCCH(OR).sub.2 wherein R can be --CH.sub.2 CYZ(NO.sub.2), --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CYZ(NO.sub.2), --CH.sub.2 C(NO.sub.2).sub.2 CH.sub.3, --CH.sub.2 C(NO.sub.2).sub.2 CYZ(NO.sub.2), --CH.sub.2 C(NO.sub.2).sub.2 CH.sub.2 CYZ(NO.sub.2) or --CH.sub.2 C(NO.sub.2).sub.2 C(NO.sub.2).sub.2 CYZ(NO.sub. 2) wherein Y and Z vary independently and can be Cl, F or NO.sub.2. These acetals are produced by contacting a negatively substituted aldehyde such as CHCl.sub.2 CHO, CCl.sub.3 CHO, CHF.sub.2 CHO, CF.sub.3 CHO, HO.sub.2 CCHO, or OHCCHO with a negatively substitute alcohol of the formula ROH wherein R is as defined above. Either FSO.sub.3 H, ClSO.sub.3 H, or CHF.sub.2 SO.sub.3 H, or CF.sub.3 SO.sub.3 H is used to catalyze the condensation. The acetals of this invention are useful as explosives.