Octanitrocubane

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Image:Octanitrocubane.png Octanitrocubane is a shock-insensitive high explosive (Unlike Trinitrotoluene (TNT) it is not detonated by shock). The octanitrocubane molecule has the same chemical structure as the cubane molecule, C₈H₈, except all eight hydrogen (H) atoms are each replaced by nitro (NO₂) groups. Its formula is C₈N₈O₁₆. Its density is about 2 g/cm³. Its gram-molecular weight is 464.132(1) g/mol. Its SMILES structure is Template:SMILES.

Octanitrocubane is thought to have 20 to 25 percent greater performance than HMX (octogen), the state-of-the-art military explosive at present. This increase in power is due to its greater molecular weight and its highly expansive breakdown into 8CO₂ + 4N₂, as well as to the presence of strained chemical bonds in the molecule. In addition, Octanitrocubane requires no external oxygen source to decompose, 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 lab, but not enough for performance testing as an explosive.

Octanitrocubane was first synthesized by Philip Eaton 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.

"Hepta- and Octanitrocubanes", Mao-Xi Zhang, Philip E. Eaton, and Richard Gilardi; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2000, 39, No. 2, pages 401-404

Its R.E. factor is about 2.7.

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