title: Intra- and intermolecular electrostatic interactions and their significance for the structure, acidity, and tautomerization behavior of trinitromethane.
abstract: We have addressed several interesting issues related to trinitromethane: the propellerlike arrangement of its nitro groups, its lower-than-predicted (although still high) acidity, its aci tautomerization, and the absence of expected very short C-HO intermolecular bridges in the crystal. A combination of crystallographic and computed data was used in our analysis. The structural features mentioned and the anomalous acidity can be attributed to intra- and/or intermolecular electrostatic interactions. Decomposition via C-NO(2) bond scission may occur before aci tautomerization can take place.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana 70148, USA. jsmurray@uno.edu
authors.forename: Jane S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Göbel
authors.forename: Thomas M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Klapötke
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Politzer