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Octanitrocubane - the Most Powerful Explosive of All?

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Octanitrocubane - the Most Powerful Explosive of All? Octanitrocubane - The most powerful explosive of all? Since the invention of gunpowder in 9th in the international edition of "Angewandte century China[1] and its subsequent distribution Chemie" in Jan. 2000[6]. over Europe and Arabia, humanity has since strived for new and better forms of explosives, What finally culminated in Eaton's and especially after the military relevance of such Zhang's successful synthesis had been a long compounds became obvious. It took, however, and tedious journey: For over 10 years several centuries until notable progress was synthetic chemists had worked on adding nitrate groups to cubane, one by one, until made, aside from improving the already [5] known gunpowder: In the middle of the 19th octanitrocubane was finally created . It is no century Nitroglycerine became one of the first wonder, that the final synthesis is not only very complex, but also difficult: No less than practical explosives not derived from [5] gunpowder thanks to the ongoing 40 steps were required to get to the final product, while only yielding it in sparse advancements in science and technology [4] (mainly in chemistry).[2] Since then the quantities . diversity of explosives has steadily increased. Now only one question stays unanswered: It is no wonder, that at some point, after the Can the "real" octanitrocubane stand up to its very elementary principles of explosives had "theoretical" twin? Does it exhibit the finally been discovered, scientists started to predicted properties? Well, yes and no: theorize, which compound might be the most While it is insensitive to shock and friction as powerful of all explosives. One of the predicted[3][6], its density of 1.979 g/cm³[6] is candidates for that title is octanitrocubane. at the lower end of the calculated range[4][6], One could say that making it not quite as effective as once thought, even though there might be other, octanitrocubane is a [6] somewhat odd more dense modifications . Still, this compound, not so density, while not setting a new record, much chemically, but makes it the most powerful chemical rather because of its explosive known (equivalent to 2.38 kg of TNT per kg)[3] and its detonation velocity of history: Many of its chemical and physical [3] properties, including its explosive potential, 10100 m/s also the fastest. There's just one had been calculated long before it was even small problem with it: Its price. Because the clear that this compound could ever be only known method of synthesizing it is so manufactured[4]. In fact many people long and difficult, each gram of octanitrocubane is actually more expensive believed, that it might never be synthesized, [4] because they assumed the 90 degree bonding than gold and who wants to blow angles would strain the molecule beyond its something up with gold? It may hence take breaking point[4]. another decade until octanitrocubane sees any use outside of scientific interest. These people were proven wrong, however, [1]: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_gunpowder when in the year 1999, Philip E. Eaton, the [2]: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitroglycerin very man, who first created cubane almost 40 [3], [a]: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octanitrocubane years ago, finally succeeded in creating octanitrocubane. He and his research [4]: www.wiley-vch.de /books/sample/3527302409_c01.pdf p.14f associate Mao-Xi Zhang at the university of [5]: www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/01/010320.explosive.shtml [6]: Mao-Xi Zhang, Philip E. Eaton, Richard Gilardi (2000). Chicago published their method of synthesis "Hepta- and Octanitrocubanes". Angewandte Chemie 112 (2): 422– 426 Octanitrocubane - Quick-Reference Names[3]: Octanitrocubane, ONC, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Octanitro- 2,5 3,8 4,7 pentacyclo[4.2.0.0 .0 .0 ]octan [3] Molecular formula : C8(NO2)8 CAS[3]: 99393-63-2 M[3]: 446,13 g/mol Density[4][6]: 1,979 g/cm³ [4] f H : 465,3 kJ/mol Characteristics[3][6]: colourless, stable solid Solubility[6]: slightly in Hexane, good in polar organic solvents [6] Symmetry : nearly D4 Shock sensitivity[3][6]: low Friction sensitivity[3][6]: low Detonation velocity[3]: 10100 m/s Detonation pressure[7]: 30 GPa Detonation Temperature[7]: 6000°C RE factor[3]: 2,38 (the explosive power of 1 kg ONC is equivalent to 2.38kg TNT) [7]: http://www.buetzer.info/fileadmin/pb/pdf-Dateien/Octanitrocuban.pdf The synthesis of octanitrocubane from cubaneic acid; note that this is a simplified illustration Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Octanitrocubane_synthesis.png .
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