Cyclopentadiene

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Cyclopentadiene, with molecular formula C5H6, is a clear, colorless, liquid organic chemical, with an odor reminiscent of turpentine or camphor. It is a cyclic diene which slowly dimerizes into dicyclopentadiene through a Diels-Alder reaction if stored at room temperature. This is a reversible reaction and cyclopentadiene can be recovered by distillation. This should be done always before using the compound.

Related Topics:
Molecular - Formula - Organic - Chemical - Diene - Dimer - Dicyclopentadiene - Diels-Alder reaction

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This dimer can be cracked and separated into the monomer by distillation. Then, removal of a proton leaves the five-membered aromatic cyclopentadienyl anion, C5H5-, which can combine with a number of different transition metals to form cyclopentadienyl complexes, such as metallocenes.

Related Topics:
Proton - Aromatic - Anion - C - H - Transition metal - Cyclopentadienyl complex - Metallocene

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The delocalisation energy gained by proton loss makes this compound weakly acidic, which is unusual for a hydrocarbon.

Related Topics:
Delocalisation energy - Acid

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