Thermochemical properties of iodinated cubane derivatives

Since the initial synthesis of cubane, numerous derivatives have been made with a diverse range of physical, chemical, and biological properties. Some iodinated cubane derivatives have been reported to be thermolytically unstable and/or rearrange in situ. An iodinated cubane-containing, norbornene-based polymer showed rapid thermo-decomposition during TGA studies. Bis-(4-iodocubylmethyl)-dialkoxy disulfide undergoes fragmentation more easily than its non-iodinated counterpart. The synthesis and thermal behaviour of a library of iodinated cubane compounds are herein reported. Most of the iodinated cubane derivatives showed melting/decomposition with no exotherm upon cooling. 4-Iodo-1-vinylcubane was observed to rearrange to 4-vinyl-trans-β-iodostyrene and its cyclooctatetraene intermediate during DSC analysis. TGA studies on 1-iodo-4-(hydroxymethyl)-cubane suggest that this particular iodinated cubane scaffold is mostly prone to rapid thermo-decomposition.