Tetrakis(nitratoxycarbon)methane (Née CLL‐1) as a Potential Explosive Ingredient: a Theoretical Study

Ab initio electronic structure calculations at the MP2/cc‐pVTZ level predict the vibrational stability of the theoretical molecule tetrakis(nitratoxycarbon)methane, designated CLL‐1. The gas phase enthalpy of formation, predicted to be +1029.3 kJ mol −1 using the G3(MP2) method, and the estimated density of 1.87 g cm −3 are used to predict the explosive performance properties using the equilibrium thermochemical code CHEETAH. The predicted detonation velocity (8.61 km s −1 ) and pressure (33.1 GPa) are similar to those of RDX, but with a significantly higher detonation temperature (6740 K). Finally, the stability of this theoretical molecule is investigated by calculating the lowest energy unimolecular decomposition pathways of the HCO 3 N model compound as well as barriers to rearrangement upon interaction of two HCO 3 N molecules.