octene

Octene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon in which eight carbon atoms are linked by a carbon–carbon double bond. Like other alkenes, octene participates in addition reactions and exists as several structural isomers depending on the position of the double bond along the carbon chain and, for internal alkenes, geometric isomerism.

Common isomers include 1-octene, a terminal alkene, and internal octenes such as 2-octene, 3-octene, and 4-octene. Internal octenes can exhibit geometric isomerism (E and Z) when the double-bond carbons bear different substituents. Because of chain symmetry, certain isomeric forms are equivalent from opposite ends of the molecule, but in general there are several distinct octene structures.

Physical properties of octenes vary with the isomer, but they are typically colorless liquids at room temperature, characterized by low water solubility and solubility in nonpolar solvents. They are flammable and have boiling points in a range consistent with eight carbon alkenes, generally increasing with chain length and substituent pattern.

Production and applications of octenes occur mainly in the petroleum and petrochemical industries. They are generated through refinery processes such as catalytic cracking and olefin oligomerization of smaller feedstocks. The most important octene isomer in industry is 1-octene, widely used as a comonomer in polyethylene production to modify material properties. Other octenes serve as solvents, intermediates in chemical syntheses, or monomers for specialty polymers and fragrances.

Reactions typical of octenes include addition across the C=C bond (hydrogenation, halogenation, hydrohalogenation, hydration) and polymerization to polyolefins, as well as oxidative cleavage methods such as ozonolysis.