hexahydro

Hexahydro is a prefix used in organic chemistry to denote that a cyclic compound has been completely saturated with hydrogen atoms. This means that all double or triple bonds within the ring structure have been reduced to single bonds. For example, cyclohexane is a six-membered ring containing alternating double and single bonds. Hexahydrobenzene, more commonly known as cyclohexane, is the fully saturated form where all carbon-carbon bonds are single. Similarly, hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a hydrogenated derivative of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), meaning that the double bonds in THC have been reduced. The term "hexahydro" implies the addition of six hydrogen atoms to the parent molecule to achieve saturation. This process, hydrogenation, often involves the use of catalysts like platinum, palladium, or nickel. The resulting hexahydro compounds typically exhibit different physical and chemical properties compared to their unsaturated precursors, often showing increased stability and altered reactivity.