Exceeding the oxygen content of liquid oxygen: bis(2,2,2-trinitroethyl) carbonate

Bis(2,2,2-trinitroethyl) carbonate, C5H4N6O15, is an oxygen-rich compound (61.83% of molecular weight) of interest with respect to energetic materials. The molecule adopts an s-cis-s-cis conformation of the carbonate group. Intra- as well as intermolecular C-H center dot center dot center dot O and dipolar nitro-group interactions account for its exceptionally high density of 1.975 Mg m(-3). As a consequence of the relationship between structure and crystal density, this polymorph contains available oxygen in amounts even superior to liquid oxygen.