Azacubanes for High Energy Propulsion

Cubanes are high energy materials which can be used as propellants. The high energy propellant azacubane could be used either as a pure material or as a fuel additive. Azacubane is a nitrogen derivative of cubane and has more favorable properties. The basic reason for the high energy content of cubane is the distortion of carbon-carbon bonds which comprise its structure. Azacubane incorporates this element of strain energy but because of the presence of one or more nitrogen atoms, this new material has totally different chemical and physical properties. Chemical synthesis will be used to make azacubanes in quantities sufficient for preliminary evaluation. Also synthetic routes will be investigated for the purpose of scaling up the synthesis with a view towards future manufacture. The end goal is to develop an economical synthesis for these powerful and exciting materials.