Tripropylene

Tripropylene
Identifiers
13987-01-4 Yes
Properties
C9H18
Molar mass 126.24
Appearance colourless liquid
Density 1.022
Melting point -93.5
Boiling point 156
very low
Except where noted otherwise, data is given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
 Yes verify (what is: Yes/?)
Infobox references

Tripropylene, also known as propylene trimer, is a mixture of organic compounds with the formula C9H18.[1] This mixture is obtained by oligomerization of propene:

C3H6 → C9H18

In this process, two double bonds are lost and one is retained as illustrated by the isomer shown in the figure. The reaction is catalyzed by acids, such as polyphosphoric acid.[2] A variety of catalysts have been explored.[3] The reaction proceeds via the formation of a carbocation ((CH3)2CH+), which attacks another propylene unit, generating a new carbocation, etc. This kind of process affords mixtures (C3H6)n.

Like other alkenes, propylene trimer is used as an alkylating agent. A number of surfactants and lubricants are produced by alkylation of aromatic substrates.

References

  1. Tripropylene MSDS, chemexper.net
  2. G. R. Lappin, L. H. Nemec, J. D. Sauer, J. D. Wagner "Olefins, Higher" in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 2010. doi:10.1002/0471238961.1512050612011616.a01.pub2
  3. Johan A. Martens, Wim H. Verrelst, Georges M. Mathys, Stephen H. Brown, Pierre A. Jacobs "Tailored Catalytic Propene Trimerization over Acidic Zeolites with Tubular Pores" Angewandte Chemie International Edition Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2005, Volume 44, Issue 35, pages 5687–5690. doi:10.1002/anie.200463045