Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 28, 2026

Decene

Decene is an organic compound with the chemical formula C10H20. Decene contains a chain of ten carbon atoms with one double bond, making it an alkene. There are many isomers of decene depending on the position and geometry of the double bond. Dec-1-ene is the only isomer of industrial importance. As an alpha olefin, it is used as a comonomer in copolymers and is an intermediate in the production of epoxides, amines, oxo alcohols, synthetic lubricants, synthetic fatty acids and alkylated aromatics.

Last revised
Jun 28, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
477 w
Citations
6
Source
Decene
source ↗
source ↗
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Dec-1-ene
Other names
Alpha Olefin C10; Decylene; α-Decene; 1-decene
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.011.654
EC Number
  • 212-819-2
RTECS number
  • HE2071401
UNII
UN number 3295, 1993
  • InChI=1S/C10H20/c1-3-5-7-9-10-8-6-4-2/h3H,1,4-10H2,2H3 checkY
    Key: AFFLGGQVNFXPEV-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C10H20/c1-3-5-7-9-10-8-6-4-2/h3H,1,4-10H2,2H3
    Key: AFFLGGQVNFXPEV-UHFFFAOYAO
  • CCCCCCCCC=C
Properties
C10H20
Molar mass 140.270 g·mol−1
Density 0.74 g/cm31
Melting point −66.3 °C (−87.3 °F; 206.8 K)1
Boiling point 172 °C (342 °F; 445 K)1
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS02: FlammableGHS08: Health hazardGHS09: Environmental hazard
Danger
H226, H304, H410
P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P273, P280, P301+P310, P303+P361+P353, P331, P370+P378, P391, P403+P235, P405, P501
Related compounds
Related Alkenes
Octene
Nonene
Undecene
Dodecene
Related compounds
Decane
Decanol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Decene /dɛkn/ is an organic compound with the chemical formula C10H20. Decene contains a chain of ten carbon atoms with one double bond, making it an alkene. There are many isomers of decene depending on the position and geometry of the double bond. Dec-1-ene is the only isomer of industrial importance. As an alpha olefin, it is used as a comonomer in copolymers and is an intermediate in the production of epoxides, amines, oxo alcohols, synthetic lubricants, synthetic fatty acids and alkylated aromatics.2

The industrial processes used in the production of dec-1-ene are oligomerization of ethylene by the Ziegler process or by the cracking of petrochemical waxes.3

In ethenolysis, methyl oleate, the methyl ester of oleic acid, converts to 1-decene and methyl 9-decenoate:4

CH 3 ( CH 2 ) 7 CH = CH ( CH 2 ) 7 CO 2 Me methyl oleate + CH 2 = CH 2 CH 3 ( CH 2 ) 7 CH = CH 2 1-decene + MeO 2 C ( CH 2 ) 7 CH = CH 2 9-decenoate {\displaystyle {\overset {\text{methyl oleate}}{{\ce {CH3(CH2)7CH=CH(CH2)7CO2Me}}}}+{\color {red}{\ce {CH2=CH2}}}\longrightarrow {\overset {\text{1-decene}}{{\ce {CH3(CH2)7CH=}}{\color {red}{\ce {CH2}}}}}+{\overset {\text{9-decenoate}}{{\ce {MeO2C(CH2)7CH=}}{\color {red}{\ce {CH2}}}}}}

Dec-1-ene has been isolated from the leaves and rhizome of the plant Farfugium japonicum and has been detected as the initial product in the microbial degradation of n-decane.

References

References

  1. Record in the GESTIS Substance Database of the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
  2. http://www.ineosoligomers.com/media/files/lao/LAO%20C10%20Data%20Sheet.pdf 1-Decene (Alpha Olefin C10)], ineosoligomers.com
  3. Alfa Olefins Archived 2017-05-17 at the Wayback Machine, SIDS Initial Assessment Report
  4. Marinescu, Smaranda C.; Schrock, Richard R.; Müller, Peter; Hoveyda, Amir H. (2009). "Ethenolysis Reactions Catalyzed by Imido Alkylidene Monoaryloxide Monopyrrolide (MAP) Complexes of Molybdenum". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 131 (31): 10840–10841. Bibcode:2009JAChS.13110840M. doi:10.1021/ja904786y. PMID 19618951.
External links
  • Entry C872059 in Linstrom, Peter J.; Mallard, William G. (eds.); NIST Chemistry WebBook, NIST Standard Reference Database Number 69, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg (MD)