Octanitrocubane
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Octanitrocubane
IUPAC name	Octanitrocubane
Identifiers
CAS number
SMILES	O=N(=O)C12C3(N(=O)=O)C4(N(=O)=O)C1(N(=O)=O)C5(N(=O)=O)C2(N(=O)=O)C3(N(=O)=O)C45N(=O)=O
Properties
Molecular formula	C8N8O16
Molar mass	464.13 g/mol
Appearance	2 g/cm3
Explosive data
Shock sensitivity	Low
Friction sensitivity	Low
Explosive velocity	10,100 m/s
RE factor	2.7
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox references

Octanitrocubane (molecular formula: C₈(NO₂)₈) is a powerful high explosive that, like TNT, is shock-insensitive (not readily detonated by shock). The octanitrocubane molecule has the same chemical structure as cubane (C₈H₈) except that each of the eight hydrogen atoms are each replaced by a nitro group (NO₂).

Octanitrocubane is thought to have 20-25% greater performance than HMX (octogen), the state-of-the-art military explosive as of year 2000^[update]. This increase in power is due to its highly expansive breakdown into CO₂ and N₂, as well as to the presence of strained chemical bonds in the molecule which have stored potential energy. In addition, octanitrocubane produces no water vapor making it less visible, and both the chemical itself and its decomposition products are considered non-toxic.

Small amounts have been synthesized in the laboratory, but not enough for performance testing as an explosive.^{1citation needed}

Octanitrocubane was first synthesized by Philip Eaton (who was also the first to synthesize cubane in 1964) and Mao-Xi Zhang at the University of Chicago in 1999, with the structure proven by crystallographer Richard Gilardi of the US Naval Research Laboratory.²³

Its R.E. factor is about 2.7.^{citation needed}

See also

• 2,4,6-Tris(trinitromethyl)-1,3,5-triazine
• Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane
• Heptanitrocubane

References

External links

• Powerful explosive blasts onto scene Science News Online, Jan. 22, 2000
• American Chemical Society lauds difficult synthesis of new compound (by Philip Eaton), March 20, 2001