Cyclobutane

Colorless, sweet- smelling gas

Gaseous

0.71 g · cm -3 ( 11 ° C)

-90.7 ° C

12.5 ° C

130 kPa ( 20 ° C)

Poorly in water

3.7 kJ / mol

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Cyclobutane is one belonging to the cycloalkanes colorless gas with the molecular formula C4H8.

The cyclobutane molecule

The cyclobutane molecule is not flat; it is in a folded conformation, whereby the voltage ( torsional stress, Pitzer tension ) that would be generated in a planar conformation of the molecule, by the eight stationary eclipsed each hydrogen atoms, is reduced. The "kink angle" is according to various measurements 33-37 °.

The non-rigid cyclobutane molecule performs a pseudo- rotation, where the carbon atoms move alternately by 26 ° out of the plane.

Properties and hazards

In water cyclobutane is only very slightly soluble.

Cyclobutane is highly flammable.

Reactions

The reactivity of the cyclobutane is higher than that of n-butane, due to the hoop stress. At 500 ° C it is cracked to ethene (reversible - thermally allowed - [2 2 ] cycloaddition ). It is hydrogenated with hydrogen on a palladium catalyst to n-butane. With oxygen it burns to form water and carbon dioxide.