Up until now, there have been attempts at synthesizing octafluorocubane, shown below, but success has been elusive.
Has there been any success, and how might the symmetry and fluorine's electron affinity affect its properties?
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asked Aug 23, 2022 at 21:35
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[Caveat: This is not so much a question-and-answer as a desire to share Derek Lowe's article in his inimitable style. Given enough down-votes, I'll delete both Q-&-A. But enjoy the synthesis summary, cited below!]
Yes! The synthesis of perfluorocubane (or octafluorocubane, if you prefer) has been accomplished, as described by Derek Lowe, "[I]t is predicted to have the ability to hold a free electron in the middle of that cube (!) That's because of the C-F bond properties - all the electron density is being pulled towards the F atoms, so the center of the cube really has room for one to sit in there without running into a lot of interference... [T]here are eight sigma-star orbitals from those C-F bonds all pointing into the center of the cage and overlapping, and giving you effectively a stabilized vacant orbital there."
Get more details in Lowe's article!
answered Aug 23, 2022 at 21:35
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2$\begingroup$ "Quantum Mechanics: A Hand-Waving Approach" - I'd buy that book if Derek wrote it! $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 23, 2022 at 22:44
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2$\begingroup$ I'll upvote if you go into the related HN comments section and straighten-out some of those goofy comments :) $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 23, 2022 at 23:59
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5$\begingroup$ @ToddMinehardt, I'd upvote anyone who convinces Lowe to continue his series, Things I Won't Work With, or start another! They're great material for teaching, or just for personal edification and amusement. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 24, 2022 at 2:47
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$\begingroup$ I think the electron is trapped by the 8 positively charged carbons. $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 25, 2022 at 2:10
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$\begingroup$ They should try dodecahedrane next! $\endgroup$ Commented Aug 25, 2022 at 11:22