Cyclobutene is an

organic compound Some chemical authorities define an organic compound as a chemical compound that contains a carbon–hydrogen or carbon–carbon bond; others consider an organic compound to be any chemical compound that contains carbon. For example, carbon-co ...

with the

chemical formula A chemical formula is a way of presenting information about the chemical proportions of atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound or molecule, using chemical element symbols, numbers, and sometimes also other symbols, such as pare ...

. It is a

cycloalkene In organic chemistry, a cycloalkene or cycloolefin is a type of alkene hydrocarbon which contains a closed Ring (chemistry), ring of carbon atoms and either one or more double bonds, but has no Aromaticity, aromatic character. Some cycloalkenes, ...

. It is a colorless gas that easily condenses. It is of interest in research but currently has no practical applications. A modern synthesis involves the 2-step

dehydration In physiology, dehydration is a lack of total body water that disrupts metabolic processes. It occurs when free water loss exceeds intake, often resulting from excessive sweating, health conditions, or inadequate consumption of water. Mild deh ...

of cyclobutanol. The compound was first prepared by thermolysis of the ammonium salt (cyclobutyltrimethylammonium hydroxide). Cyclobutene thermally isomerizes to 1,3-butadiene. This strongly

exothermic reaction In thermochemistry, an exothermic reaction is a "reaction for which the overall standard enthalpy change Δ''H''⚬ is negative." Exothermic reactions usually release heat. The term is often confused with exergonic reaction, which IUPAC define ...

reflects the dominance of

ring strain In organic chemistry, ring strain is a type of instability that exists when bonds in a molecule form angles that are abnormal. Strain is most commonly discussed for small rings such as cyclopropanes and cyclobutanes, whose internal angles ar ...

. In contrast, the corresponding equilibrium for hexafluorocyclobutene disfavors hexafluorobutadiene.

References

{{cycloalkenes Monomers Cycloalkenes

See also

References