The complete determination of the crystal structure of solid nitromethane has been obtained from single crystal x-ray diffraction and neutron powder diffraction data. The structure is orthorhombic, space group P212121 with a=5.1832 Å, b=6.2357 Å, c=8.5181 Å at T=4.2 K, and Z=4. Two models were used to describe the thermal motion of the methyl group, one with anisotropic temperature factors for the hydrogen atoms constrained to correspond to a threefold rotation around the C–N bond, and the other treating the group as a rigid body, with a tortional oscillation about the C–N bond axis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.