Ab initio MODPOT / VRDDO / MERGE calculations on energetic compounds. IV. Nitrocubanes: Mononitro to octanitro quantum chemical calculations and electrostatic molecular potential contour maps

Ab initio MODPOT/VRDDO/MERGE calculations have been carried out for all the different position isomers of nitrocubane from mononitrocubane through octanitrocubane for a perfect symmetrical cubic cubane skeleton and for mononitrocubane through septanitrocubane for the almost cubic experimentally determined cubane skeleton. These calculations were carried out with our own rapid efficient ab initio programs which also incorporate a number of desirable computational strategies for calculations on large molecules. The skeletal total overlap population of the cubane skeleton (a theoretical index we showed years ago to be sensitive and predictive of stability of energetic molecular frameworks) indicates that successive nitration seems to increase the stability of the cubane skeleton. Successive nitration also seems to increase the total overlap population of the CNO2 bond. There are subtle differences depending on the exact positional isomer for a constant number of nitro groups—but the overall trend is definite. We have also generated electrostatic molecular potential contour (EMPC) maps around these nitrocubanes. These maps are indicative of preferred positions of electrophilic and nucleophilic attack as a function of the number of nitro groups or their positions. These EMPC maps can also indicate, to a first approximation, a limit on how close these molecules may be able to approach each other in a crystal.