What Is Cyclohexene?
Cyclohexene is an organic compound with the molecular formula C6H10. It is also known as 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrobenzene.
Its CAS registration number is 110-83-8. It has a molecular weight of 82.14, a melting point of -104°C, and a boiling point of 83°C. At room temperature, it is a colorless liquid with a phenolic odor. It has a density of 0.811 g/mL and a solubility in water of 0.21 g/L (at 20°C).
Although it is insoluble in water, it is readily soluble in ethanol and acetone.
Uses of Cyclohexene
Cyclohexene, like other organic compounds, is used as an organic solvent and as a solvent for adhesives. Synthetically, it is used as a raw material for synthesizing various organic compounds such as adipic acid and maleic acid.
Cyclohexene derivatives are used in a variety of products, including agrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. They are also used as odor additives for city gas because they have a distinctive odor but do not contain sulfur.
Properties of Cyclohexene
Cyclohexene can be synthesized by partial hydrogenation of benzene. It can also be obtained laboratory scale by acid-catalyzed dehydration and distillation of cyclohexanol.
Cyclohexene can also be synthesized from cyclohexanol. In this synthetic route, cyclohexanone is also produced as a byproduct during the dehydrogenation reaction, which can be used as a precursor for caprolactam.
Structure of Cyclohexene
The restable conformation of cyclohexene is a semi-single conformation. In cyclohexene, all C-H bonds are restable in the chair conformation to avoid steric hindrance, while cyclohexene has a double bond in the molecule and this part is planar.
Types of Cyclohexene
Cyclohexene is generally sold as a reagent product for research and development and as an industrial raw material chemical. As reagent products for research and development, they are available in 25mL, 500mL, 1L, 2L, and other capacities. They are reagent products to be handled at room temperature.
Dibutylhydroxytoluene (BHT) may be added as an antioxidant to prevent peroxide formation.
These are large capacities to meet the demand of factories and other applications. Products for industrial use are offered in capacities and packing formats such as 160 kg drums, 18 T containers, and 10 T tank trucks.
The main applications of this compound are expected to be odorants, solvents, and agrochemical raw materials.
Other Information on Cyclohexene
1. Chemical Reaction of Cyclohexene
Cyclohexene reacts with light and air to produce peroxides. Often, it is distilled to remove the peroxide just prior to use.
The hydration reaction of cyclohexene produces cyclohexanol. Adipic acid can also be synthesized by oxidative cleavage of cyclohexene. In this reaction, hydrogen peroxide is used as an oxidant and the reaction proceeds in the presence of a tungsten catalyst.
2. Safety Information on Cyclohexene
Cyclohexene has been reported to be hazardous to human health, specifically, it is toxic by oral ingestion and may cause nervous system damage, irritation to the respiratory tract, drowsiness or dizziness. It is also a highly flammable substance with a low flash point of -17°C. It is highly volatile, and there is a risk of peroxide formation and explosion upon contact with air.