What is octanitrocubane?

Octanitrocubane is a highly explosive compound that is structurally similar to cubane, a cubical hydrocarbon. It is one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosives known to man, with a detonation velocity of over 10 km/s. Octanitrocubane consists of a central cube of eight carbon atoms, each of which is attached to eight nitro functional groups.

Due to its extreme sensitivity and high energy content, octanitrocubane is considered too dangerous to be used in practical applications such as military explosives. It has primarily been studied for academic purposes and as a theoretical benchmark for evaluating the explosive properties of other compounds.

However, the synthesis of octanitrocubane remains a complex and challenging process, as it requires careful control and handling of highly reactive chemicals. Despite its limited practical use, octanitrocubane continues to be of interest to researchers for its unique molecular structure and explosive properties.