The title mononitrodiphenyl carbonate consitutes the simplest congener
in the arylnitrocarbonate family. The structure contains two independ
ent molecules. The two O-C (ester) bond lengths average 1.340 (7) (phe
nyl) and 1.354(6) Angstrom, (nitrophenyl). The average C=O (carbonyl)
bond length is 1.180 (7) Angstrom. In both molecules there is a close
intramolecular interaction between an O atom of the nitro group and th
e carbonyl C atom. The configuration and the average C ... O distance
[2.672 (7) Angstrom] are similar to those observed in other nitropheny
l carbonate structures.