cyclobutane
chemical compound
Quick Summary
Cyclobutane is a saturated cyclic hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C4H8. It is a synthetically produced gas that easily condenses. Cyclobutane belongs to the class of compounds known as cycloalkanes, which are hydrocarbons containing at least one ring of carbon atoms. Unlike smaller cycloalkanes like cyclopropane, cyclobutane is not planar and adopts nonplanar conformations to minimize strain. This nonplanar structure is crucial for its stability, as it allows for more favorable bond angles compared to a flat ring.12
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