Abbreviations 1,4-CHDN Density 847 kg/m³ | Formula C6H8 Appearance Colorless liquid | |
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1,4-Cyclohexadiene is an organic compound with the formula C6H8. It is a colourless, flammable liquid that is of academic interest as a prototype of a large class of related compounds called terpenoids, an examples being γ-terpinene. An isomer exists of this compound, 1,3-cyclohexadiene.
Synthesis and reactions
In the laboratory, substituted 1,4-cyclohexadienes are synthesized by Birch reduction of related aromatic compounds using an alkali metal and a proton donor such as ammonia. In this way, over reduction to the fully saturated ring is avoided.
1,4-Cyclohexadiene and its derivatives are easily aromatized, the driving force being the formation of an aromatic ring. The conversion to an aromatic system may be used to trigger other reactions, such as the Bergman cyclization.
