Atoms-in-Molecules Study of Intra- and Intermolecular Bonding in the Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate Crystal

Chemical bonding in the pentaerythritol tetranitrate crystal based on the experimental electron
density obtained from X-ray diffraction data at 100 K and theoretical calculations at the experimental
molecular geometry have been analyzed in terms of the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules. Features
of the intra- and intermolecular bond critical points and the oxygen atom lone-pair locations are discussed.
Numerous intermolecular bonding interactions, including O···H and O···O, have been found and
characterized. Atomic charges and atomic energies were integrated and compared with those for similar
compounds. The N−O topological bond orders have been calculated for the first time, and the PETN atomic
valences have been estimated.