Fulvene (pentafulvene) is a
hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and Hydrophobe, hydrophobic; their odor is usually fain ...
with the formula (CH=CH)
2C=CH
2. It is a prototype of a
cross-conjugated hydrocarbon. Fulvene is rarely encountered, but substituted derivatives (
fulvenes) are numerous. They are mainly of interest as
ligand
In coordination chemistry, a ligand is an ion or molecule with a functional group that binds to a central metal atom to form a coordination complex. The bonding with the metal generally involves formal donation of one or more of the ligand's el ...
s and precursors to ligands in
organometallic chemistry
Organometallic chemistry is the study of organometallic compounds, chemical compounds containing at least one chemical bond between a carbon atom of an organic molecule and a metal, including alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metals, and so ...
.
Fulvene is an isomer of
benzene
Benzene is an Organic compound, organic chemical compound with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecular formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar hexagonal Ring (chemistry), ring with one hyd ...
, which when irradiated at 237 to 254 nm forms small amounts of fulvene along with
benzvalene.
See also
*
Fulvalene
*
Methylenecyclopropene
References
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Hydrocarbons
Vinylidene compounds
Cyclopentadienes