hexahydroxycyclohexane

Hexahydroxycyclohexane, also known as cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol, is a saturated cyclic polyol consisting of a cyclohexane ring bearing one hydroxyl group on each carbon. Its formula is C6H12O6 and its approximate molecular weight is 180.16 g/mol. Because each ring carbon carries an OH substituent and a hydrogen, the compound exists as multiple stereoisomers, and the chair conformation is commonly discussed as the preferred arrangement to minimize strain and promote hydrogen bonding.

Hexahydroxycyclohexane is not widely used in bulk chemical manufacturing and is mainly described in specialized literature as a potential polyol building block for highly crosslinked polymers. The six hydroxyl groups confer high functionality, making it a candidate for polyurethane and polyester-forming reactions, but also presenting challenges in synthesis, purification, and processing. The molecule is highly polar and is expected to be water-soluble, with limited compatibility with nonpolar solvents.

In the literature, synthetic routes to hexahydroxycyclohexane typically involve multi-step hydroxylation of a cyclohexane scaffold or selective oxidation of suitably functionalized cyclohexane precursors. The large number of possible stereoisomers means that isolating an individual isomer is challenging without stereocontrolled methods.

Safety and handling follow general precautions for polyols: the compound is hygroscopic and can be irritating. Because hexahydroxycyclohexane is not widely manufactured on a large scale, detailed hazard data are limited to niche publications and safety assessments of related polyols.