Terminal alkene

Hex-1-ene, a typical alpha-olefin.
The blue numbers show the IUPAC numbering of the atoms in the backbone chain of the molecule. The red symbols show the common nomenclature labeling of the main chain atoms. The double bond of an alpha olefin is between the #1 and #2 (IUPAC) or α and β (common) carbon atoms.

In organic chemistry, terminal alkenes (alpha-olefins, α-olefins, or 1-alkenes) are a family of organic compounds which are alkenes (also known as olefins) with a chemical formula CxH2x, distinguished by having a double bond at the primary, alpha (α), or 1- position.[1] This location of a double bond enhances the reactivity of the compound and makes it useful for a number of applications.[2]

  1. ^ Petrochemicals in Nontechnical Language, 3rd Edition, Donald L. Burdick and William L. Leffler, ISBN 978-0-87814-798-4
  2. ^ Griesbaum, Karl; Behr, Arno; Biedenkapp, Dieter; Voges, Heinz-Werner; Garbe, Dorothea; Paetz, Christian; Collin, Gerd; Mayer, Dieter; Höke, Hartmut (2000). "Hydrocarbons". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a13_227. ISBN 3527306730.