1-DECENE

1-Decene is a linear alpha olefin containing ten carbon atoms and a terminal carbon-carbon double bond.
It is supplied as a clear, colourless, mobile liquid for use as a reactive hydrocarbon feedstock, comonomer, and synthesis intermediate.
Its principal commercial roles are in polyalphaolefin production, specialty copolymers, oxo chemicals, drag-reducing polymers, and the manufacture of epoxides, amines, synthetic fatty acids, and alkylated aromatics.

The combination of a reactive terminal double bond and a hydrophobic C8 alkyl segment gives 1-Decene a useful balance of chemical accessibility and hydrocarbon character.
Product selection commonly centres on carbon-number purity, linear terminal-olefin content, paraffin and isomer levels, water, peroxides, carbonyl compounds, colour, and antioxidant status.

CHEMICAL IDENTITY AND COMMON NAMES

1-Decene is the straight-chain terminal alkene represented by CH2=CH(CH2)7CH3.
The systematic name dec-1-ene specifies that the double bond begins at the first carbon atom, which distinguishes this material from internal positional isomers such as 2-decene, 3-decene, 4-decene, and 5-decene.

The shortened commercial name decene is often used for 1-Decene in a C10 alpha-olefin context, but decene is also the broader name for multiple C10H20 alkene isomers.
Poly(1-decene), hydrogenated polydecene, hydrogenated 1-decene oligomers, decane, and 1-decanol are different substances with different identifiers and physical properties.

Synonyms and Common Names: Dec-1-ene, alpha-Decene, α-Decene, n-1-Decene, 1-n-Decene, n-Dec-1-ene, Decene-1, Decene-n-1, Decylene, n-Decylene, C10 alpha olefin, Alpha Olefin C10, Normal Alpha Olefin C10, NAO 10, 1-C10H20, NSC 62122

TECHNICAL IDENTIFICATION

CAS Number: 872-05-9
EC / EINECS Number: 212-819-2
IUPAC Name: Dec-1-ene
Molecular Formula: C10H20
Molar Mass: 140.27 g/mol
Exact Mass: 140.1565 g/mol
Structural Formula: CH2=CH(CH2)7CH3
Canonical SMILES: C=CCCCCCCCC
InChIKey: AFFLGGQVNFXPEV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
UNII: 7O4U4C718P
Chemical Class: Linear alpha olefin and terminal alkene

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

Appearance: Clear, colourless, water-white, mobile liquid
Physical State: Liquid at 20 °C
Odour: Mild characteristic hydrocarbon odour
Melting / Freezing Point: -66.3 °C
Normal Boiling Point: 170.5 °C at 101.3 kPa
Density: 0.740 g/cm³ at 20 °C
Relative Density: Approximately 0.75 at 15.6 °C
Vapour Pressure: Approximately 0.21 kPa at 25 °C
Relative Vapour Density: 4.84, with air equal to 1
Kinematic Viscosity: Approximately 1.1 mm²/s at 20 °C
Refractive Index: n20/D approximately 1.421
Water Solubility: Approximately 0.115 mg/L at 25 °C
Solubility in Organic Media: Soluble in hydrocarbon solvents and many nonpolar organic solvents
Log Kow: 5.70
Flash Point: 46–49 °C, closed cup
Autoignition Temperature: Approximately 210 °C
Lower Explosive Limit: 0.7% by volume in air
Upper Explosive Limit: 5.9% by volume in air
Critical Temperature: Approximately 617 K
Critical Pressure: Approximately 22.2 bar
Standard Enthalpy of Vaporisation: Approximately 50.44 kJ/mol
Chemical Stability: Stable under controlled ambient storage and handling conditions
Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidising agents, including chlorates, nitrates, and peroxides

The very low water solubility and a log Kow of 5.70 reflect strong affinity for hydrocarbon and organic phases.
The liquid is less dense than water and will float if released onto an aqueous surface.
Its vapour is substantially heavier than air and can collect in low or enclosed areas.

FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

The terminal CH2=CH– group is more accessible than an internal double bond and supports addition, oligomerisation, copolymerisation, epoxidation, hydroformylation, hydrosilylation, oxidation, and metathesis chemistry.
High linear terminal-olefin content improves reaction consistency because branching and internal double bonds change catalyst response, conversion, and downstream isomer distribution.

The nonpolar carbon chain provides hydrophobicity, oil solubility, and compatibility with hydrocarbon process streams.
These characteristics make 1-Decene suitable for introducing a C10 hydrocarbon segment into larger molecules and polymers without adding a polar functional group at the feed stage.

The low viscosity supports pumping, metering, mixing, and heat transfer at ambient process temperatures.
The moderate flash point, low electrical conductivity of hydrocarbon liquids, and vapour density require bonded and grounded equipment, controlled ventilation, and effective ignition-source management.

PRODUCTION AND COMMERCIAL FORM

Commercial 1-Decene is produced principally by catalytic oligomerisation of ethylene.
Ethylene chain growth generates a distribution of even-numbered linear alpha olefins, after which distillation isolates the C10 fraction and finishing operations control colour, water, oxygenated compounds, and peroxide content.

Modified chain-growth and displacement processes are established routes to high-linearity C10 alpha olefin.
Wax-cracking routes can also produce C10 olefins, although their broader mixture of linear, branched, terminal, and internal structures creates a different commercial composition.

Ethenolysis of unsaturated fatty-acid-derived feedstocks provides another route to molecularly identical 1-Decene.
Renewable-origin or mass-balance documentation can therefore be a meaningful procurement attribute when feedstock origin and product carbon accounting are part of the purchasing requirement.

The product is traded as a neat liquid C10 cut and as higher-purity material for synthesis, catalyst-sensitive processing, and analytical work.
Industrial material can be supplied with or without antioxidant, making inhibitor status an important part of the purchase description.
Minor process-related constituents can include n-decane, 2-ethyl-1-octene, 2-butyl-1-hexene, internal decenes, and adjacent carbon-number olefins.

APPLICATIONS AND INDUSTRIES

POLYALPHAOLEFIN AND SYNTHETIC LUBRICANT PRODUCTION
1-Decene is a major feedstock for polyalphaolefin base stocks.
Controlled oligomerisation forms dimers, trimers, tetramers, and higher oligomers, followed by fractionation and hydrogenation to establish the required viscosity range and chemical stability.

The resulting polyalphaolefins are synthetic hydrocarbon base fluids with high viscosity index, strong low-temperature performance, low volatility, and good thermal and oxidative behaviour when formulated with an appropriate additive system.
They are used in automotive engine and transmission lubricants, industrial gear oils, compressor fluids, hydraulic fluids, aviation lubricants, marine lubricants, greases, and other applications requiring controlled synthetic base-stock performance.

Feed terminality, branching, paraffin content, water, peroxides, and oxygenated impurities affect oligomerisation rate, catalyst consumption, molecular distribution, and finishing load.
PAO producers therefore place particular emphasis on a consistent linear terminal-olefin profile and low levels of catalyst-active impurities.

POLYMERS AND COPOLYMERS
1-Decene serves as a comonomer in selected ethylene and other olefin copolymers.
Incorporation into an ethylene chain produces long octyl side branches that interrupt crystallisation and can be used to adjust density, melting behaviour, flexibility, toughness, and optical properties.

This role is relevant to specialty linear low-density polyethylene, elastomeric polyolefins, and research or production programmes using catalysts capable of incorporating higher alpha olefins.
Catalyst system, comonomer concentration, reactor conditions, and feed purity determine incorporation efficiency and polymer architecture.

OXO ALCOHOLS, PLASTICISER INTERMEDIATES, AND SURFACTANT RAW MATERIALS
Hydroformylation reacts 1-Decene with carbon monoxide and hydrogen to form C11 aldehydes.
Subsequent hydrogenation produces C11 oxo alcohols that can be converted into plasticiser esters, surfactants, acrylates, solvents, and other performance intermediates.

The position and geometry of the olefin influence the linear-to-branched aldehyde ratio.
High terminal-olefin content therefore supports predictable product distribution, while internal olefins and branched C10 isomers create different oxo products.

EPOXIDES, AMINES, FATTY ACIDS, AND SPECIALTY INTERMEDIATES
Epoxidation of 1-Decene produces 1,2-epoxydecane, a reactive intermediate for further ring-opening chemistry.
Ring-opening reactions convert this epoxide into oxygen- or nitrogen-functional C10 derivatives for specialty synthesis.

1-Decene is also a feedstock for C10-derived amines, synthetic fatty acids, and alkylated aromatic compounds.
These downstream materials enter lubricant additives, surfactant systems, process chemicals, resins, and other specialty formulations.

Hydroboration, oxidation, halogen addition, hydrosilylation, and olefin metathesis provide further controlled routes to linear C10-functional products.
In these reactions, low peroxide and carbonyl content can be important for catalyst efficiency and colour control.

DRAG-REDUCING POLYMERS AND HYDROCARBON FLOW MANAGEMENT
Very-high-molecular-weight polymers derived from 1-Decene can function as drag-reducing agents in turbulent hydrocarbon flow.
Small concentrations of the dissolved polymer suppress turbulent energy loss and increase pipeline throughput or reduce pumping demand.

This application connects 1-Decene with oil and gas gathering, crude-oil and refined-product pipelines, fuel transport, and other hydrocarbon transfer systems.
Polymer molecular weight, dissolution behaviour, shear stability, and carrier-fluid compatibility determine the performance of the finished drag-reducing product.

ANALYTICAL AND RESEARCH USE
High-purity 1-Decene is used as a chromatography reference, retention-time standard, terminal-olefin model compound, and substrate in catalyst and reaction-development work.
Analytical material places greater emphasis on chromatographic assay, isomer profile, traceability, and a lot-specific certificate rather than bulk process economics.

GRADE SELECTION AND PRODUCT SUITABILITY

Industrial C10 alpha-olefin grades are selected by composition rather than assay alone.
Carbon-number distribution establishes how much of the product lies within the C10 cut, while linear terminal-olefin analysis separates the desired 1-Decene structure from branched and internal C10 isomers.

Common high-purity industrial acceptance targets include the following parameters.
C10 Content: Minimum 98 wt%
Total Mono-olefin Content: Minimum 99.5 wt%
Linear Terminal Olefin Content: Minimum 94.6 mol%
Paraffin Content: Maximum 0.5 wt%
Water: Maximum 100 mg/kg
Peroxides as Oxygen: Maximum 3 mg/kg
Carbonyl Compounds as C=O: Maximum 10 mg/kg
Colour: Maximum 10 APHA

PAO and polymerisation applications benefit from high terminality, low water, low peroxide content, low oxygenated impurities, and clearly declared antioxidant status.
An antioxidant that supports storage stability can interfere with a catalyst or analytical method, so inhibited and uninhibited material should be distinguished in the order specification.

Hydroformylation and specialty synthesis grades require a controlled internal-olefin and branching profile because these constituents change regioselectivity and downstream separation requirements.
Colour and carbonyl content are also relevant when a light-coloured derivative or a sensitive homogeneous catalyst is involved.

Reagent grades commonly use chromatographic assays around 97% or higher, while analytical reference material can reach 99.5% or higher by gas chromatography.
These grades are appropriate for reaction development, method validation, impurity profiling, and instrumental calibration where identity and traceability carry more weight than bulk-volume handling.

FORMULATION AND PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS

1-Decene should be introduced into the organic or hydrocarbon phase of a formulation because it does not form a true aqueous solution.
Where an aqueous process is involved, emulsification requires an appropriate surfactant system and sufficient mixing energy.

For catalyst-sensitive oligomerisation, polymerisation, hydroformylation, and hydrosilylation, dry closed transfer and inert-gas blanketing help control water, oxygen uptake, vapour emission, and peroxide formation.
Feed filtration can remove particulates that would otherwise affect catalyst systems, valves, small metering lines, or analytical sampling.

Addition reactions and polymerisations can be strongly exothermic under catalytic or initiated conditions.
Metered charging, agitation, heat-removal capacity, temperature monitoring, and emergency quench planning should be established for the specific chemistry and scale.

Peroxide development is an important inventory-control parameter for stored alpha olefins.
Low-peroxide feed supports consistent catalyst behaviour and reduces colour formation in downstream products.
Stock rotation, closed sampling, controlled headspace exposure, and the selected antioxidant programme support stable handling quality.

Elastomers, gaskets, hoses, pump seals, coatings, and tank linings should be selected for nonpolar hydrocarbon service.
Compatibility is especially important during extended storage because 1-Decene can swell or soften some polymeric materials.

QUALITY, SPECIFICATIONS, AND DOCUMENTATION

Gas chromatography is the primary tool for determining 1-Decene assay, carbon-number distribution, terminal-olefin content, internal isomers, branching, and paraffins.
Water is commonly measured by Karl Fischer analysis, while peroxide, carbonyl, colour, density, and appearance tests provide additional control over storage condition and process suitability.

A Certificate of Analysis should present the lot-specific results that govern acceptance for the selected grade.
The Technical Data Sheet describes the grade, test parameters, physical properties, and intended commercial positioning.
The Safety Data Sheet provides hazard classification, exposure controls, first aid, fire response, storage, disposal, and transport information.

Useful procurement information includes the required minimum terminal-olefin content, C10 content, maximum water and peroxide limits, carbonyl limit, antioxidant requirement, analytical method needs, packaging format, order quantity, delivery location, and application.
Batch traceability, retain-sample arrangements, change control, and origin or sustainability documentation can be incorporated when they are material to qualification.

SAFETY AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS

1-Decene is classified as a Category 3 flammable liquid and vapour.
It is also classified as a Category 1 aspiration hazard because liquid entering the lungs during swallowing or vomiting can cause severe chemical pneumonitis and may be fatal.

The substance is classified as very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects.
Release to drains, surface water, soil, and wastewater systems must be prevented, and firewater or spill residues require containment.

The product is stable in normal storage but reacts with strong oxidising agents.
Under suitable catalysts, acids, or initiators, the double bond can participate in exothermic addition and polymerisation reactions.
Combustion produces carbon oxides and smoke.

For transport, 1-Decene is assigned UN 3295, Hydrocarbons, liquid, n.o.s., Class 3, Packing Group III.
Marine transport also identifies the material as environmentally hazardous.
1-Decene is listed as an active substance on the United States TSCA Inventory and is identified in Europe by EC number 212-819-2.

FIRST AID

Inhalation: Move the affected person to fresh air, keep the person at rest, and obtain medical attention if symptoms persist.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing and wash the skin thoroughly with soap and water.
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with clean water for at least 15 minutes, remove contact lenses when easy to do, and obtain medical attention if irritation continues.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting, rinse the mouth, and obtain immediate medical assistance or poison-centre advice because of the aspiration hazard.
Unconscious Person: Never give anything by mouth and place a breathing person in the recovery position while arranging emergency care.
Note to Physicians: Protect the airway and monitor for aspiration-related lung injury, with treatment directed to the clinical condition.

HANDLING AND STORAGE

Use closed systems, local exhaust ventilation, and explosion-protected electrical equipment where vapour can be generated.
Bond and ground containers, tanks, pumps, transfer lines, and receiving equipment, and use non-sparking tools in flammable-vapour areas.

Wear chemical splash goggles, hydrocarbon-resistant gloves such as nitrile or neoprene, and protective clothing suited to the transfer volume and exposure potential.
Respiratory protection appropriate for organic vapour is required when engineering controls do not maintain airborne concentrations at a safe level.

Store in tightly closed, compatible containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, sparks, flames, hot surfaces, and strong oxidising agents.
Protect containers from physical damage and keep opened drums upright and securely resealed.
Storage arrangements should include spill containment and no direct connection to drains or waterways.

For a small spill, remove ignition sources, ventilate the area, stop the leak when safe, and absorb the liquid with a non-combustible material using grounded, non-sparking equipment.
For a fire, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide is suitable, while water spray can be used to cool exposed containers.
A high-volume water jet can spread the water-immiscible burning liquid and should not be directed onto the product.

PACKAGING AND PROCUREMENT CONSIDERATIONS

1-Decene can be supplied in approved steel drums, compatible intermediate bulk containers, tank containers, and bulk tank transport selected to match order volume and receiving capability.
Packaging and closures must be suitable for a Class 3 hydrocarbon liquid and compatible with prolonged contact with a nonpolar solvent.

The purchasing description should state 1-Decene, CAS 872-05-9, together with grade, minimum C10 and linear terminal-olefin content, maximum water and peroxide limits, antioxidant status, packaging, quantity, and documentation requirements.
For catalyst-sensitive operations, including the target carbonyl and internal-olefin limits in the order specification improves production consistency and incoming quality control.

Delivery planning should account for dangerous-goods classification, earthing arrangements, vapour control, unloading connections, tank capacity, sampling points, and any inert-gas requirement at the receiving site.
Empty packages retain flammable vapour and require the same ignition-control discipline as full packages until cleaned and managed through an authorised recovery or disposal route.

For 1-Decene grade selection, specifications, application requirements, documentation, packaging, and supply planning, contact Ataman Kimya by telephone at +90 216 577 10 10 or by email at info@atamankimya.com.