Synthesis of a Fascinating Cube-Shaped Molecule

In today's video I will show you the synthesis of Octasilacubane using t-Butyltrichlorosilane, Sodium and 12-Crown-4 ether. So to say the inorganic equivalent of the well known Cubane. Since the reactants and the product are air sensitive, I will do the whole synthesis using the Schlenk technique. That is, I will work under inert gas to prevent contact of the chemicals with oxygen and moisture. The product will be beautiful purple crystals.
I will use the product in another synthesis to create the stable radical anion.

I am sorry for the bad audio. I really need to get a lavalier microphone. I hope you can still enjoy the video.

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Music:
Local Forecast – Elevator by “Kevin Macleod”


Chapter:
00:00 Introduction
00:58 Explanation of the Schlenk-Setup
06:46 Weighing in the t-Butyl trichlorosilane
09:21 Assembling the reaction apparatus
11:46 Transferring the toluene
17:30 Transferring the 12-crown-4 ether
19:00 Cutting and adding the sodium
19:55 Adding the t-Butyl trichlorosilane
21:19 Starting the reaction
22:32 Filtering the product
28:42 Yield
29:44 Fluorescence of the product
31:19 Recrystallisation