Mechanochemistry of Cubane

J Am Chem Soc. 2022 Dec 21;144(50):22865-22869. doi: 10.1021/jacs.2c10878. Epub 2022 Dec 8.

Abstract

We report the mechanochemical reactivity of the highly strained pentacyclic hydrocarbon cubane. The mechanical reactivity of cubane is explored for three regioisomers with 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-substituted pulling attachments. Whereas all compounds can be activated thermally, mechanical activation is observed via pulsed ultrasonication of cubane-containing polymers only when force is applied via 1,2-attachment. The single observed product of the force-coupled reaction is a thermally inaccessible syn-tricyclooctadiene, in contrast to cyclooctatetraene (observed thermally) or a pair of cyclobutadienes that would result from sequential cyclobutane scission. We further quantify the mechanochemical reactivity of cubane by single molecule force spectroscopy, and force-coupled rate constants for ring opening reach ∼33 s-1 at a force of ∼1.55 nN, lower than forces of 1.8-2.0 nN that are typical of conventional cyclobutanes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Mechanical Phenomena*
  • Polymers* / chemistry

Substances

  • Polymers