Xenon in Rigid Oxide Frameworks: Structure, Bonding and Explosive Properties of Layered Perovskite K4Xe3O12

The tendency of high-valence xenon to form consolidated oxide structures is herein supported by the study of K4Xe3O12, the first example of a layered xenon perovskite. Xenon seems to be the only nontransition element that can adopt single-cation oxide perovskite frameworks. At the same time, peculiarities of electronic structure of xenon impose specific features on the bonding within a perovskite structure. Weak supramolecular interactions known as aerogen bonds are the linkers that maintain structural integrity of perovskite slabs in K4Xe3O12. The occurrence of aerogen bonding can provide an insight into the explosive properties of K4Xe3O12: the weakness of supramolecular interactions allows consideration of them as possible trigger bonds responsible for the detonation sensitivity of layered xenon perovskite.