Tripropylene
Tripropylene, also known as propylene trimer, 1-propene trimer, and tripropene is a mixture of three specific hydrocarbons, all saturated alkanes.
Its name comes from its mode of production, the trimerization of propene (also known as propylene). The propene molecules assemble randomly into three unique molecules. These are congeners. Tripropylene is a blend of three of the thirty-five structural isomers having the molecular formula nC9H20.mC9H20.lC9H20.
The three isomers are:
- 2,3-Dimethylheptane, CH3CH(CH3)CH(CH3)CH2CH2CH2CH3;
- 2,4-Dimethylheptane, CH3CH(CH3)CH2CH(CH3)CH2CH2CH3;
- 2,3,5-Trimethylhexane, CH3CH(CH3)CH(CH3)CH2CH(CH3)CH3.
Tripropylene is not a chemical intermediate to polypropylene. It is not an active oligomer, it is a complete oligomer. The addition of hydrogen removes the last double bond, making it a saturated (iso-)alkane. It has no active site or "free end", so it cannot undergo the same polymerization reaction that makes polypropylene.
Contents
Properties
At room temperature, tripropylene is a highly flammable liquid that is insoluble in water. It is lighter than water, and its vapors are heavier than air.
Production
When produced from propene, the net reaction is 3 C3H6 + H2 → C9H20.
Tripropylene is produced in large quantities and shipped in railway tankers.
Uses
Tripropylene is an intermediate in the preparation of other chemicals and as a lubricating oil additive.[1]
References
- ↑ Tripropylene MSDS, chemexper.net
