• Cubane Molecule Synonyms:

cubane, cubane compounds, cubane particles, cubane-based drugs, octanitrocubane, tetranitrocubane, platonic carbon molecules, cubane-based molecules, cubylacetlyenes, 

• Cubane Molecule Designations:

Chemical Formula: C₈H₈

• Cubane Molecule General Description:

1) A molecule consisting of 8 carbon atoms arranged at the corners of a cube plus single hydrogen atoms sprouting symmetrically from each carbon. The C-C-C bond angle is therefore 90 degrees rather than the 109.5 degrees customary in other hydrocarbon molecules. Solid cubane forms molecular crystals. 

2) Cubane (C₈H₈) is a synthetic hydrocarbon molecule that consists of eight carbon atoms arranged at the corners of a cube, with one hydrogen atom attached to each carbon molecule. Cubane is a solid crystalline substance.

3) The cubane molecule was first synthesized in 1964 by Dr. Philip Eaton, a professor of chemistry at the University of Chicago. Before its synthesis, researchers believed that cubic carbon-based molecules could only exist in theory. It was believed that cubane would be impossible to synthesize because the unusually sharp 90-degree bonding angle of the carbon atoms would be too highly strained and hence unstable. Surprisingly, once formed, cubane is actually quite kinetically stable due to a lack of readily available decomposition paths.

4) Cubane and its derivative compounds have many important properties. The 90-degree bonding angle of the carbon atoms in cubane means that the bonds are highly strained. Therefore, cubane compounds store a great deal of energy in these bonds, which in principle may make them useful as high-density, high-energy fuels and explosives.

5) Cubane also has the highest density of any hydrocarbon, further contributing to its ability to store large amounts of energy. In fact, a cubane-derived explosive may someday surpass octogen as the most powerful standard grade military explosive. Researchers are looking into using cubane and similarly synthesized cubic molecules in medicine and nanotechnology. 

• Cubane Molecule Chemical Properties Available:

Purities available are in the R&D laboratory environment at this time.

• Cubane Molecule Physical Properties Available:

Particle size options are in the R&D laboratory environment.

• Cubane Molecule Typical Developing Applications:

Chemical explosive, cubane-based drugs, and fuels.

• Cubane Molecule Packaging:

Jars

• Cubane Molecule TSCA (SARA Title III) Status:

Unknown. For further information please call the E.P.A. at +1.202.554.1404

• Cubane Molecule CAS Number:

CAS# 277-10-1

• Cubane Molecule ACX Number:

X1001823-8

• Cubane Molecule General References:

1) National Institute of Standards and Technology in Washington, DC

2) Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC

3) U.S. Army- Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey USA

4) University of Rochester in New York USA

5) University of Maryland USA

6) Dr. P. Eaton & Thomas Cole, Jr. at The University of Chicago USA

7) Wikipedia  English Version