Cyclohexanone
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cyclohexanone
[¦sī·klō′hek·sə‚nōn]Cyclohexanone
(also pimelic ketone), an alicyclic ketone. A colorless liquid with a sharp odor, similar to that of acetone, cyclohexane has the structural formula
It has a melting point of –40.2°C, a boiling point of 155.6°C, and a density of 0.946 g/cm3 at 20°C. It is approximately 7 percent soluble in water at 20°C and is miscible with most organic solvents. Cyclohexanone dissolves cellulose nitrates, cellulose acetates, fats, waxes, polyvinyl chloride, and many natural resins. It has all the chemical properties that are characteristic of ketones.
Cyclohexanone is industrially obtained by the catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane, usually in a mixture with cyclohexanol, or by the catalytic oxidation of cyclohexanol. It is used mainly as a solvent and also as an intermediate in the production of caprolactam and adipic acid, which are starting materials for the manufacture of polyamides.