An analysis of stable forms of CL-20: A DFT study of conformational transitions, infrared and Raman spectra

The most stable forms of 2,4,6,8,10,12-hexanitro-2,4,6,8,10,12-hexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20) were analyzed at the B3LYP/6-31G+(d,p) level of theory. The mechanism of conformational transformations was clarified. The activation energies of those transitions were found to be quite low and lie in the range 1.2–4.0 kcal mol−1. IR and Raman spectra of the studied CL-20 forms were simulated. The predicted vibrational modes were used for comparison with the experimental values. The unique peaks for each of the conformers in IR and Raman spectra were found. These peaks can be used as the “signatures” of the studied conformers and for identification of different polymorphs of CL-20 in mixtures.