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As infrared seeking technology evolves, threats are better able to distinguish defensive infrared (IR) flares from true targets. Spectrally matched flares, which generally employ carbon‐based fuels, are better able to decoy some advanced missiles by more closely mimicking the IR emission of the target. Cubane is a high‐energy carbon‐based scaffold which may be suitable for use as a fuel in spectrally matched flares. The enthalpy of formation and strain energy of a series of cubanes was predicted in silico, and their thermal and impact stability examined. All were found to undergo highly exothermic decomposition in sealed cell differential scanning calorimetry, and two cubanes subsequently underwent quantitative sensitiveness testing. Despite their F of I values being in the secondary explosive range, cubane‐1,4‐dicarboxylic acid (F of I=70) and 4‐carbamoylcubane‐1‐carboxylic acid (F of I=90) were identified as potentially useful fuels for pyrotechnic infrared countermeasure flare formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical and agrochemical discovery programs are under considerable pressure to meet increasing global demand and thus require constant innovation. Classical hydrocarbon scaffolds have long assisted in bringing new molecules to the market place, but an obvious omission is that of the Platonic solid cubane. Eaton, however, suggested that this molecule has the potential to act as a benzene bioisostere. Herein, we report the validation of Eaton's hypothesis with cubane derivatives of five molecules that are used clinically or as agrochemicals. Two cubane analogues showed increased bioactivity compared to their benzene counterparts whereas two further analogues displayed equal bioactivity, and the fifth one demonstrated only partial efficacy. Ramifications from this study are best realized by reflecting on the number of bioactive molecules that contain a benzene ring. Substitution with the cubane scaffold where possible could revitalize these systems, and thus expedite much needed lead candidate identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]