I was rabit holing on Wikipedia when I stumbled upon a very interesting compound of the name benzvalene. It is an explosive tricyclic isomer of
benzene with some serious Gibbs free energy. It seems very reactive, so I'm not very optimistic about adding nitro groups or other explophores. But
suposedly it forms a polymer, though I am unsure of the synthesis of the this polymer. I was also wondering about other strained hydrocarbons. But
what do you guys think? Would these compounds have good properties as primary explosives? And also, could they be acessable to the amateur chemist?
Thank you for reading!Metacelsus - 12-9-2016 at 19:39
Would these compounds have good properties as primary explosives?
No, they wouldn't be storage-stable. Ordinary benzvalene will spontaneously convert to benzene. Try to put anything more energetic on there, and it
will probably just explode upon isolation.
And also, could they be accessible to the amateur chemist?
No. Methyllithium isn't exactly amateur-friendly. Tin man - 12-9-2016 at 20:11
Yeah, I guess I didn't think much befor posting this. Correct me if I'm wrong but couldn't methyl lithium be made simply by reacting methyl chloride
dissolved in butane with lithium and ( under an inert atmosphere)
filtration to remove the lithium chloride?Texium - 13-9-2016 at 05:51
Even if you could make methyl lithium, do note that the reaction conditions specify dimethyl ether at -45ºC. Good luck.XeonTheMGPony - 13-9-2016 at 06:00
refrigeration terms -45 is a snap, and here in Canada in the prairies an average winter (Well warm actually, 2013 it was -61c mars was warmer that
year!)
2 good fridge compressors, first stage R-134a or R-152a (Air duster cans) then second stage R-507
Can be don single stage doing 507 but you'll need a bigger compressor and will run higher Hp motor
[Edited on 13-9-2016 by XeonTheMGPony]halogen - 13-9-2016 at 06:51
Dry ic allows -70 C and dimethyl ether is not an uncommon aerosol propellant. I think it would be neat. You might find cyclopentadiene the harder to
come by of the necessary reagents.
And also, could they be acessable to the amateur chemist? Yes.
That is if cyclopentadiene is avaiolable. Anyway as anything but a fun or scientific project it is doomed. With regard to storage you can probably
hydrogenate it and store some trace of your effors. Tin man - 13-9-2016 at 07:20
I didn't have my much hope for benzvalene as any sort of practical explosive. But what about other strained hydrocarbons? Preferably easier to
synthesis than Cubans.PHILOU Zrealone - 14-9-2016 at 02:16
Some fuel for the brain storming...I think prismane is the same as benzvalene...
