Molecular crystals exhibiting polar symmetry are important paradigms for developing new electrooptical materials. Though accessing bulk polarity still presents a significant challenge, in some cases it may be rationalized as being associated with the specific molecular shapes and symmetries and subtle features of supramolecular interactions. In the crystal structure of 3,5,7-trinitro-1-azaadamantane, C9H12N4O6, the polar symmetry of the molecular arrangement is a result of complementary prerequisites, namely the C3v symmetry of the molecules is suited to the generation of polar stacks and the inherent asymmetry of the principal supramolecular bonding, as is provided by NO2(lone pair)...NO2(π-hole) interactions. These bonds arrange the molecules into a trigonal network. In spite of the apparent simplicity, the structure comprises three unique molecules (Z' = 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3), two of which are donors and acceptors of three N...O interactions and the third being primarily important for weak C-H...O hydrogen bonding. These distinct structural roles agree with the results of Hirshfeld surface analysis. A set of weak C-H...O and C-H...N hydrogen bonds yields three kinds of stacks. The orientation of the stacks is identical and therefore the polarity of each molecule contributes additively to the net dipole moment of the crystal. This suggests a special potential of asymmetric NO2(lone pair)...NO2(π-hole) interactions for the supramolecular synthesis of acentric materials.
Keywords: Hirschfeld surface analysis; acentric crystals; azaadamantane; crystal structure; high Z′ structures; trinitro; twinning; π-hole interactions.