Crystal structure of the high-pressure phase of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (γ-RDX)

The crystal structure of the high-pressure phase of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (gamma-RDX), which is stable above 4 GPa at room temperature, was investigated by using infrared spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction measurements followed by Rietveld refinements using a diamond anvil cell (DAC). Although gamma and alpha phases were found to belong to the same space group Pbca, they exhibited a different crystal packing. The molecular structure of the gamma phase exhibited the same conformation as that of the alpha phase however, the torsion angles of N-NO2 changed marginally.