CH2CHCH3

CH2CHCH3 is a condensed structural formula commonly used for propene, also known as propylene. The correct IUPAC name is propene, and its molecular formula is C3H6. The structure features a carbon–carbon double bond between the first and second carbon, giving CH2=CH-CH3.

Propene is a colorless gas at room temperature with a characteristic mildly sweet odor. It has a boiling point well below ambient conditions and is denser than air. It is highly flammable and forms explosive mixtures with air at certain concentrations. Propene readily undergoes reactions characteristic of alkenes, including addition across the carbon–carbon double bond.

In nature, propene occurs in small amounts in crude oil and natural gas. Industrially, it is produced mainly by steam cracking of hydrocarbon feedstocks such as propane or heavier oils and as a byproduct of petroleum refining. It is a major feedstock for the chemical industry, particularly for the production of polypropylene plastics.

Propene participates in a range of addition reactions. Hydrogenation converts it to propane; hydrohalogenation and halogen addition add across the double bond; and hydration yields isopropanol (2-propanol) under suitable acid-catalyzed conditions. The most important commercial transformation is polymerization to polypropylene, one of the world’s most widely used plastics. It also serves as a precursor for propylene oxide and various propylene-derived chemicals used in coatings, adhesives, and synthetic fibers.

Safety and handling considerations include the flammable nature of propene, the potential for forming explosive mixtures with air, and the need for proper ventilation and leak detection in storage and use areas.