Alicyclic

Name:
Alicyclic
Detailed information:
A group of organic compounds characterized by arrangement of the carbon atoms in closed ring structures sometimes resembling boats, chairs, or even birdcages. These compounds have properties resembling those of aliphatics and should not be confused with aromatic compounds having the hexagonal benzene ring. Alicyclics comprise three subgroups: (1) cycloparaffins (saturated); (2) cycloolefins (unsaturated, with two or more double bonds); and (3) cycloacetylenes (cyclynes) with a triple bond. The best-known cycloparaffins (sometimes called naphthenes) are cyclopropane, cyclohexane, and cyclopentane; typical of the cycloolefins are cyclopentadiene and cyclooctatetraene. Most alicyclics are derived from petroleum or coal tar. Many can be synthesized by various methods.