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Octadecene adds to hydrogen-terminated bulk silicon.
Octadecene is used as a standard reference material in gas chromatography for calibration and quality control purposes, due to its well-characterized retention time and stability.
Octadecene is also employed in the production of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold surfaces in materials science and nanotechnology, where its long alkyl chain and terminal double bond facilitate ordered molecular assemblies that can modify surface properties for sensors, coatings, or electronic devices.
CAS Number: 112-88-9
Molecular Formula: C18H36
Molecular Weight: 252.48
EINECS Number: 204-012-9
Synonyms:1-Octadecene, 112-88-9, Octadec-1-ene, alpha-Octadecene, H5ZUQ6V4AK, DTXSID3026932, CHEBI:30824, NSC-66460, DTXCID106932, RefChem:6721, 204-012-9, .alpha.-Octadecene, Octadecene-1, 27070-58-2, MFCD00009003, 1-Octadecene (analytical standard), Octadecylene alpha-, UNII-H5ZUQ6V4AK, 1-octadecen, alpha-octadecylene, octadeca-1-ene, Neodene 18, EINECS 204-012-9, EINECS 248-205-6, NSC 66460, Octadecylene .alpha.-, Octadecylene, .alpha.-, AI3-06521, OCTADECENE, 1-, EC 204-012-9, EC 248-205-6, SCHEMBL18904, SCHEMBL28863, SCHEMBL103181, SCHEMBL560238, orb1984115, SCHEMBL1421178, SCHEMBL1454349, SCHEMBL1785452, SCHEMBL5506099, SCHEMBL9458304, CHEMBL3187417, SCHEMBL11790787, SCHEMBL18260100, SCHEMBL18260101, SCHEMBL21523251, NSC66460, Tox21_202739, 1-Octadecene, >=95% (GC), LMFA11000325, SBB009114, 1-Octadecene (technical grade, 90%), AKOS015904365, 1-Octadecene (technical, ~85%, GC), 1-octadecene [standard material for GC], NCGC00260287-01, BS-42192, CAS-112-88-9, FO171298, DB-041130, NS00006856, O0008, S0348, ST51046652, F71291, F098821, Q10859725, 1-Octadecene, tech-95;1-Octadecene, 90%, tech;α-Octadecylene;1-Octadecane;1-OCTADECENE;1-Octadecene, tech., 90% 1LT;1-Octadecene [Standard Material for GC];Dialen 18
Octadecene is a long-chain hydrocarbon and an alkene with the molecular formula C18H36.
There are multiple structural isomers of octadecene, depending on the position of the double bond.
Octadecene, an alpha-olefin, is a relatively inexpensive solvent, with a boiling point of 315 °C.
Octadecene is compatible with oleic acid.
Octadecene, also known as Octadec-1-ene or alpha-Octadecene, is a straight-chain, unsaturated hydrocarbon belonging to the alkene family, specifically characterized by a carbon-carbon double bond located at the first carbon position of an 18-carbon linear chain.
This molecular structure gives it the chemical formula C18H36 and classifies it as a long-chain terminal alkene, meaning that the reactive double bond is situated at the end of the carbon chain rather than internally.
The presence of the terminal double bond makes Octadecene chemically reactive, allowing it to participate in a variety of addition reactions, polymerizations, and functionalization reactions, which are important in both laboratory and industrial chemistry.
Due to its long, nonpolar hydrocarbon chain, Octadecene is hydrophobic, oily in nature, and insoluble in water, but it dissolves readily in organic solvents such as hexane, toluene, or chloroform.
These physical properties make it valuable as a starting material or intermediate in the synthesis of surfactants, lubricants, specialty polymers, and functionalized fatty compounds.
For example, Octadecene is often used in organic synthesis to prepare detergents, waxes, fatty amines, and other long-chain derivatives through reactions such as hydroformylation, oxidation, or metathesis.
Octadecene is a long-chain hydrocarbon and an alkene with the molecular formula CH2=CH(CH2)15CH3.
Octadecene is one of many isomers of octadecene. Classified as an alpha-olefin, 1-octadecene is the longest alkene that is liquid at room temperature.
Treatment of Octadecene with trichlorosilane in the presence of platinum catalysts gives octadecyltrichlorosilane.
Because Octadeceneis a long-chain alkene with relatively low volatility, it is considered moderately safe to handle under standard laboratory conditions, but it is flammable and can pose hazards if heated or exposed to open flame, and care should be taken to avoid ingestion, inhalation of vapors, or prolonged skin contact in its pure form.
Melting point: 14–16 °C (lit.)
Boiling point: 179 °C at 15 mmHg (lit.)
Density: 0.789 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)
Vapor density: 0.71 (vs air)
Vapor pressure: 1.3 hPa (20 °C)
Refractive index: n²⁰/D 1.444 (lit.)
Flash point: 300 °F
Storage temperature: Store below +30 °C
Form: Liquid
Specific gravity: 0.789
Color: Clear, colorless to amber
Odor: Mild hydrocarbon odor
Viscosity: 5.46 mm²/s
Water solubility: Miscible with alcohol, acetone, and ether; immiscible with water
BRN: 1761067
InChIKey: CCCMONHAUSKTEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
LogP: 9.470 (estimated)
Octadecene is less volatile than short-chain alkenes and generally considered to have low acute toxicity, it is flammable and combustible, producing hazardous fumes when burned, and direct skin or eye contact in concentrated form can cause mild irritation.
It should therefore be handled with appropriate personal protective equipment, in well-ventilated areas, and away from open flames or sources of ignition, particularly in industrial or laboratory environments where large quantities or concentrated solutions are in use.
The copolymerization of ethylene and Octadecene using a bridged metallocene has been studied.
Monolayers of Octadecene were attached on a hydrogen-terminated (111) silicon surface via free-radical reaction.
Octadecene is a long-chain terminal alkene consisting of 18 carbon atoms arranged in a straight chain with a single carbon-carbon double bond at the alpha, or first, position, giving it the molecular formula C18H36 and making it part of the broader class of linear alpha-olefins.
Its terminal double bond imparts high chemical reactivity, allowing it to undergo a variety of organic reactions including hydroformylation to produce aldehydes, epoxidation to generate epoxides, hydrogenation to form saturated alkanes, and polymerization to form long-chain polymers or copolymers, all of which are valuable for the synthesis of surfactants, lubricants, specialty coatings, and functionalized long-chain chemicals.
The molecule’s hydrophobic and nonpolar nature, resulting from its long hydrocarbon chain, makes Octadecene insoluble in water but highly soluble in organic solvents such as hexane, toluene, and chloroform, which allows it to be used efficiently as a reaction medium or chemical intermediate in organic synthesis.
Its melting point is relatively low and it exists as a colorless liquid at room temperature, properties that facilitate handling, storage, and incorporation into formulations, although its viscosity increases slightly at lower temperatures due to the long hydrocarbon chain.
Industrially, Octadecene is widely employed as a feedstock for producing detergents, surfactants, and fatty derivatives, where reactions such as hydroformylation followed by hydrogenation yield linear alcohols or acids that are subsequently converted into soaps, emulsifiers, or specialty chemicals.
Octadecene is also utilized in polymer chemistry, particularly in the production of polyalphaolefins (PAOs) used as synthetic lubricants, as well as in the preparation of waxes, fatty amines, and other functional long-chain chemicals that are used in coatings, adhesives, and personal care products.
In addition to its industrial and chemical synthesis roles, Octadecene plays a specialized role in materials science and nanotechnology, where the terminal double bond is exploited to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold, silver, or other metal surfaces, creating organized molecular layers that can modify surface wettability, chemical reactivity, or electronic properties for applications in sensors, microelectronics, and surface coatings.
This application takes advantage of both the hydrophobic 18-carbon tail and the reactive alpha-position, which allows the molecules to anchor onto surfaces while presenting a uniform hydrophobic interface.
Octadecene is a versatile, long-chain alpha-olefin with significant industrial and laboratory applications, ranging from chemical intermediates for surfactants, lubricants, and fatty derivatives, to polymer synthesis and advanced materials applications such as self-assembled monolayers, with properties defined by its terminal double bond, long hydrocarbon chain, hydrophobicity, and chemical reactivity, making it a crucial molecule in organic synthesis, materials science, and specialty chemical manufacturing while requiring flammable-material precautions and mild handling considerations.
Uses Of Octadecene:
Octadecene is a widely used solvent for high temperature nanocrystal synthesis (120–320 °C).
Non-coordinating Octadecene (ODE)is another frequently used solvent and seems to be plagued less by impurities.
Apart from its role as solvent, ODE has often been used as reagent in NC synthesis since ODE’sterminalalkene (vinyl) has inherent reactivity.
Octadecene is used for the preparation of alkene-terminated silicon alkyl monolayers, nanocrystals, nanoplatelets and quantum dots.
Octadecene may be used in the preparation of monodisperse CuPd alloy nanoparticles (NPs).
It may be used in the synthesis of magnetite nanocrystals.
Octadecene is primarily used as a chemical intermediate in a wide variety of industrial and laboratory processes because its structure as a long-chain terminal alkene allows it to undergo addition reactions, polymerizations, and functionalization reactions that produce a broad range of derivatives, making it invaluable in the production of linear alcohols, aldehydes, acids, and amines, which are further processed into detergents, surfactants, emulsifiers, lubricants, and specialty chemicals used across multiple industries.
In the surfactant and detergent industry, Octadecene is reacted through processes such as hydroformylation followed by hydrogenation to create long-chain fatty alcohols, which are then converted into anionic, nonionic, or cationic surfactants that serve as cleaning agents, foaming agents, and emulsifiers in household cleaning products, personal care formulations, and industrial cleaners, providing effective removal of oils and dirt while maintaining stability and performance in complex formulations.
In lubricant and polymer applications, Octadecene is used as a monomer or comonomer in polyalphaolefin (PAO) production, where polymerization of alpha-olefins creates synthetic oils with excellent thermal stability, viscosity control, and lubricating properties, which are widely used in automotive engines, industrial machinery, and high-performance mechanical systems, demonstrating the molecule’s versatility beyond simple chemical intermediates.
In materials science and nanotechnology, Octadecene plays a crucial role in the formation of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on metal surfaces, such as gold or silver, where the reactive terminal double bond binds to the surface while the hydrophobic 18-carbon chain organizes into a densely packed, uniform layer, modifying the surface chemistry, wettability, and electronic properties of materials for use in sensors, microelectronics, coatings, and advanced functional materials.
Octadecene is sometimes used as a solvent, dispersing agent, or reaction medium in chemical syntheses and industrial processes because of its low volatility, hydrophobicity, and chemical inertness under moderate conditions, which allows it to dissolve other nonpolar substances, stabilize emulsions, and facilitate uniform reactions without participating in unwanted side reactions.
Due to its combination of chemical reactivity, long hydrocarbon chain, and terminal double bond, Octadecene also finds specialized use in the preparation of waxes, plasticizers, fatty amines, and other long-chain functional chemicals, which are subsequently incorporated into paints, coatings, adhesives, and specialty industrial formulations, thereby extending its importance from laboratory-scale reactions to large-scale industrial production.
Safety Profile Of Octadecene:
Octadecene is considered a moderately hazardous chemical primarily due to its flammability, potential for skin and eye irritation, and environmental impact if released in large quantities, and although it is relatively non-volatile at room temperature compared with shorter-chain alkenes, it can produce flammable vapors when heated or exposed to open flame, which may ignite easily and result in fire or explosion hazards in poorly ventilated areas or in the presence of strong oxidizing agents.
Direct contact with concentrated Octadecene may cause mild to moderate skin irritation, including redness, itching, or dryness, particularly with prolonged exposure, and accidental contact with the eyes can lead to temporary irritation, tearing, or discomfort, although it is generally less severe than exposure to more reactive or shorter-chain hydrocarbons.
Inhalation of vapors or aerosols generated during heating or industrial spraying can cause respiratory tract irritation, coughing, or throat discomfort, and while Octadecene has low acute toxicity, repeated or prolonged inhalation in poorly ventilated environments could contribute to respiratory sensitization or mild systemic effects over time.
