cyclononane

Cyclononane is a cycloalkane with the chemical formula C9H18. It consists of a ring of nine carbon atoms, each bonded to two hydrogen atoms. As a saturated hydrocarbon, it contains only single bonds between carbon atoms and is therefore considered to be nonpolar. Cyclononane is a colorless liquid at room temperature. It is insoluble in water but soluble in many organic solvents. Its physical properties, such as melting point and boiling point, are influenced by its ring structure, which can exist in various conformations.

The synthesis of cyclononane can be achieved through several methods, often involving cyclization reactions of acyclic precursors. For example, dicarboxylic acids can be reduced and then cyclized, or dienes can undergo ring-closing metathesis. Due to its relatively large ring size, cyclononane is less strained than smaller cycloalkanes like cyclopropane or cyclobutane, leading to different reactivity patterns. It undergoes typical alkane reactions, such as combustion and free radical halogenation, though these reactions are generally not as commonly studied for cyclononane compared to its smaller or more symmetrical ring counterparts. It is not a widely produced or utilized chemical in industrial applications.