A nitrobenzodifuroxan compound having the chemical structure of: ##STR00001## wherein two of the R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 comprise oxygen or are absent, and only one of R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 is present, and only one of R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 is present, and wherein x is hydrolyzed or hydrolyzable. The salt of the hydroxynitrobenzodifuroxan of this compound is useful in explosive compositions.