polyene
Quick Summary
A polyene is an organic compound characterized by the presence of multiple double bonds. These compounds are a type of hydrocarbon, meaning they are composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms. The double bonds can be arranged in various ways within the molecule.12
For example, lycopene, the pigment that gives tomatoes their red color, is a polyene with an extended system of alternating single and double bonds. This conjugation allows it to absorb visible light, resulting in its color. Polyenes are distinct from polyethers, which are polymers formed with ether links, and polyolefins, which are polymers made from olefins (hydrocarbons with one double bond).234
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