Cyclopentane, chemical properties

Cyclopropane and the cyclic compounds shown in Figure 1-12, cyclopentane and cyclohexane, are members of the alicyclic branch shown in Figure 1-4. The is the same prefix as used in the aliphatics because of the structure. Except for the cyclic formation, they are made up basically of chains of methylene groups (-CH2-). But. one difference from the aliphatic series of.organics is the ch-emical reactivity. Lower members of the alicyclic series have one chemical property similar to double-bonded olefins—they are quick to react chemically. 

What might the bonding in cyclic molecules be It probably will not deviate much from what we already know because the chemical properties of cycloalkanes resemble very closely those of the noncycHc alkanes. There is no essential difference between the process used to make ethane from two methyl radicals (Rg. 2.48a) and this construction of a ring compound (Rg. 2.48b). Nor would we expect to see big differences in chemical properties, because the bonding in pentane is not significantly different from that in cyclopentane. 

Synonyms Cyclopentane, methyl Chemical Formula (ii) Observable Characteristics — Physical State (as shipped) Liquid Color Colorless Odor Like gasoline (iii) Physical and Chemical Properties —... 

Physical properties of cycloalkanes [49, p. 284 50, p. 31] show reasonably gradual changes, but unlike most homologous series, different members exhibit different degrees of chemical reactivity. For example, cyclohexane is the least reactive member in this family, whereas both cyclopropane and cyclobutane are more reactive than cyclopentane. Thus, hydrocarbons containing cyclopentane and cyclohexane rings are quite abundant in nature. 

The monocyclic hydrocarbons (C H2 ) found in nature contain from 3 to 30 carbons, although in principle there is no limit to the ring size. Even so, cyclopentanes and cyclohexanes are the most abundant in nature. The analysis of single compound monocyclic alkanes is in many respects similar to the analysis of the open-chain alkanes. However, for small rings (cyclopropane, cyclobutane) some added methods can be employed because of their higher chemical activity, due to the distortion of the C—C—C angles. The olefmic properties of cyclopropanes were reviewed by Charton. ... 

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