cycloalkyne

chemical compound

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June 25, 2026

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A cycloalkyne is a chemical compound that is an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon containing a carbon-carbon triple bond within a ring structure. Unlike alkenes, which have a carbon-carbon double bond, alkynes feature a triple bond, giving them the general molecular formula C_nH_2n-2. Due to the linear geometry of the carbon-carbon triple bond, cycloalkynes can only form stable rings when they contain a large number of carbon atoms to accommodate this structure. The smallest stable cycloalkyne that can be isolated is cyclooctyne, with eight carbon atoms.1

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hydrocarbon
Nomenclature of alkenes and alkynes
…of an alkyne is linear, cycloalkynes are possible only when the number of carbon atoms in the ring is large enough to confer the flexibility necessary to accommodate this geometry. Cyclooctyne (C₈H₁₂) is the smallest cycloalkyne capable of being isolated and stored as a stable compound.
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…of an alkyne is linear, cycloalkynes are possible only when the number of carbon atoms in the ring is large enough to confer the flexibility necessary to accommodate this geometry. Cyclooctyne (C₈H₁₂) is the smallest cycloalkyne capable of being isolated and stored as a stable compound.
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