Bond Dissociation Energy cubane

The bond dissociation energy (BDE) and acidity constant (p ) of cubane (Cub—H) have been determined experimentally by Eaton and co-workers (Hare, M. Emrick, T. Eaton, P. E. Kass, S. R, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1997, 119, 237-238). The BDE is unusually high for a tertiary C—H bond, 427 kJ/mol, about 25 kJ/mol higher than in isobutane. The C—H bond is also quite acidic, comparable to the acidity of the N—H bond in ammonia, pK = 36, indicating an unusual stability for the anion... 

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