Cyclopropane is a cycloalkane molecule with the molecular formula C3H6, consisting of three carbon atoms linked to each other to form a ring, with each carbon atom bearing two hydrogen atoms resulting in D3h molecular symmetry. Cyclopropane and propene have the same molecular formula but have different structures, making them structural isomers.
| Cyclopropane[1] | |
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Cyclopropane |
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| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 75-19-4  |
| PubChem | 6351 |
| ChemSpider | 6111 |
| UNII | 99TB643425 |
| KEGG | D03627 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:30365 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1796999  |
| Jmol-3D images | Image 1 |
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| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | C3H6 |
| Molar mass | 42.08 g/mol |
| Density | 1.879 g/L (1 atm, 0 °C) |
| Melting point | −128 °C; −198 °F; 145 K |
| Boiling point | −33 °C; −27 °F; 240 K |
| Acidity (pKa) | ~46 |
| Hazards | |
| MSDS | External MSDS |
| Main hazards | Highly flammable Asphyxiant |
| NFPA 704 |
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 (verify) (what is:  / ?)Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
Cyclopropane is a cycloalkane molecule with the molecular formula C3H6, consisting of three carbon atoms linked to each other to form a ring, with each carbon atom bearing two hydrogen atoms resulting in D3h molecular symmetry. Cyclopropane and propene have the same molecular formula but have different structures, making them structural isomers.
Cyclopropane is an anaesthetic when inhaled. In modern anaesthetic practice, it has been superseded by other agents, due to its extreme reactivity under normal conditions: When the gas is mixed with oxygen there is a significant risk of explosion.
Cyclopropane was discovered in 1881 by August Freund, who also proposed the correct structure for the new substance in his first paper. Freund treated 1,3-dibromopropane with sodium, the reaction is an intramolecular Wurtz reaction leading directly to cyclopropane.[2][3] The yield of the reaction was improved by Gustavson in 1887 with the use of zinc instead of sodium.[4] Cyclopropane had no commercial application until Henderson and Lucas discovered its anaesthetic properties in 1929;[5] industrial production had begun by 1936.[6]
Cyclopropane was introduced into clinical use by the American anaesthetist Ralph Waters who used a closed system with carbon dioxide absorption to conserve this then-costly agent. Cyclopropane is a relatively potent, non-irritating and sweet smelling agent with a minimum alveolar concentration of 17.5%[7] and a blood/gas partition coefficient of 0.55. This meant induction of anaesthesia by inhalation of cyclopropane and oxygen was rapid and not unpleasant. However at the conclusion of prolonged anaesthesia patients could suffer a sudden decrease in blood pressure, potentially leading to cardiac dysrhythmia; a reaction known as "cyclopropane shock".[8] For this reason, as well as its high cost and its explosive nature,[9] it was latterly used only for the induction of anaesthesia, before being largely phased out. Cylinders and flow meters were coloured orange.
The triangular structure of cyclopropane requires the bond angles between carbon-carbon bonds to be 60°. This is far less than the thermodynamically most stable angle of 109.5° (for bonds between atoms with sp3 hybridised orbitals) and leads to significant ring strain. The molecule also has torsional strain due to the eclipsed conformation of its hydrogen atoms. As such, the bonds between the carbon atoms are considerably weaker than in a typical alkane, resulting in much higher reactivity.
Bonding between the carbon centres is generally described by in terms of bent bonds.[10] In this model the carbon-carbon bonds are bent outwards so that the inter-orbital angle is 104°. Doing this reduces the level of bond strain and is achieved by distorting the sp3 hybridisation of carbon atoms so that the C-C bonds have more π character than normal[11] (at the same time the carbon-to-hydrogen bonds gain more s-character). One unusual consequence of bent bonding is that while the C-C bonds in are weaker than normal, the carbons atoms are also closer together than in a regular alkane bond: 151 pm versus 153 pm (average alkene bond: 146pm).[12]
An alternative model for describing the bonding in cyclopropane involves Walsh diagrams and aims to do a better job fitting molecular orbital theory in light of spectroscopic evidence and group symmetry arguments. In this model cyclopropane is described as a three-center-bonded[disambiguation needed] orbital combination of methylene carbenes.
Cyclopropane was first produced via a Wurtz coupling, in which 1,3-dibromopropane was cyclised using sodium.[2] The yield of this reaction can be improved by exchanging the metal for zinc.[4]
Cyclopropane rings are found in numerous biomolecules and pharmaceutical drugs. As such the formation of cyclopropane rings, generally referred to as cyclopropanation, is an active area of chemical research.
Owing to the increased π-character of its C-C bonds, cyclopropane can react like an alkene in certain cases. For instance it undergoes hydrohalogenation with mineral acids to give linear alkyl halides. Substituted cyclopropanes also react, following Markovnikov's rule.[13]
Cyclopropane is highly flammable. However, despite its strain energy it is not substantially more explosive than other alkanes.
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