linear alpha olefin

chemical compound

Also known as: LAO

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Last updated

July 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Linear alpha olefins (LAOs) are a type of unsaturated hydrocarbon, meaning they contain only carbon and hydrogen atoms with at least one carbon-carbon double bond. Specifically, LAOs are acyclic monoolefins where the double bond is located on the first carbon atom of an unbranched chain. Their general formula is C_nH_2n.1

LAOs are produced industrially through processes like polymerization (oligomerization) and olefin metathesis, often starting with ethylene. They are crucial as starting materials for manufacturing plastics, detergents, and adhesives. Olefins with fewer than five carbon atoms are typically gases, while those with five or more are liquids at room temperature.1

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olefin
Beginning in the 1970s, so-called linear alpha olefins (LAOs; distinguished by the double bond occurring on the first, or alpha, carbon atom in the unbranched chain) were produced through polymerization (specifically, oligomerization) and olefin metathesis, which together formed the basis of the Shell higher olefin process (SHOP). In olefin oligomerization,…
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Beginning in the 1970s, so-called linear alpha olefins (LAOs; distinguished by the double bond occurring on the first, or alpha, carbon atom in the unbranched chain) were produced through polymerization (specifically, oligomerization) and olefin metathesis, which together formed the basis of the Shell higher olefin process (SHOP). In olefin oligomerization,…
Read More