Answer to Question #93844 in Organic Chemistry for Stephanie

Question

Uses and applications of cycloalkanes

Answer 1

Cyclopropane, also called trimethylene, explosive, colourless gas used in medicine since 1934 as a general anesthetic. Cyclopropane is nonirritating to mucous membranes and does not depress respiration.

 Cyclobutane is is for organic synthesis. Cyclobutanes can be found within the structures of a large number of natural products and the backbone of the clinically used anticancer drug carboplatin.

Cyclopentane is used as a solvent and also to make other chemicals, including pharmaceuticals. It is present in gasoline. Cyclopentane is present in some home building supplies.

Cyclohexane is used predominately in the nylon industry where approximately 90% of it is consumed in the industrial production of adipic acid and caprolactam, which are themselves used to generate nylon6 and nylon6.6. The remaining 10% is used both as a solvent for paints, resins, varnish and oil, and as a plasticiser. Cyclohexane can also be used as an intermediate in the manufacture of other industrial chemicals such as cyclohexanone and nitrocyclohexanone.