Chemical of the Day: Cyclohexane

Err today's chemical is cyclohexane! Thankfully its not too interesting, since I want to sleep : <
Stupid promos are going to kill me soon.

Name: Cyclohexane
IUPAC Name: Cyclohexane
Other names: None (not surprising right there.)

Molecular Formula: C6H12 (note resemblence to hexene)
Molar Mass: 84.16g/mol
Appearance (at r.t.p.): Colourless liquid
Solubility in water: Immiscible (not surprising either)
Dipole Moment: 0.0D (SURPRISE!)

Synthesis:
1. Benzene can be forcibly hydrogenated through the use of the strong catalyst, for example Pd/C under extreme temperatures and pressures (over 250atm pressure required, not sure the temperature). However a more powerful catalyst such as rhodium activated by acid is often used in industrial processes (this requires only 70Degrees C temperature and 20atm pressure of H2 gas).

I don't really know of any other synthesis pathways, except by funny things like intra-molecular nucleophilic substitution or something.
This might work in a lab, but the yield is probably not appreciable.

Properties:
1. Cyclohexane is most commonly studied for being the smallest alicyclic hydrocarbon with absolutely no ring strain at all. This is due to the stability of the "chair" conformer. Conformations in cyclohexane draws plenty of interest, and for a good reason too. It was once thought that alicyclic hydrocarbons were all planar (as if they were aromatic XD) but in reality its not the case. Each carbon in the ring is sp3 hybridized, hence is tetrahedral in shape. The 12 hydrogens are divided into 2 groups: 6 "axial" hydrogens, and 6 "equitorial" positions. The positions of the groups attached to the cyclohexane ring makes a difference to its reaction chemistry (especially regioselective processes). Lastly, cyclohexane also exhibits a "ring flip" rearrangement, where the axial and equitorial positions interchange with each other.

2. Cyclohexane exists only in 2 stable conformers, the "chair" conformer and the "boat" conformer. Suppose one of these carbons is substituted by a halogen atom. One look shows that typical nucleophilic substitution reactions (SN2 in this case) will not work on it as it is not possible for the nucleophile to attack from the opposite side of the carbon; it is blocked by the ring. Therefore, bromocyclohexane does NOT form cyclohexanol even in aqueous NaOH; instead it undergoes the more preferred elimination reaction to form cyclohexene.

3. It is non-polar and hydrophobic. Not surprising at all, considering its a hydrocarbon. Its main forces of attraction are dispersion forces, while water associates with hydrogen bonding. Needless to say solvent - solvent interactions and solute - solute interactions are much stronger than solvent-solute interactions; there's no way cyclohexane will dissolve in water.

4. Cyclohexane is highly flammable. Not a surprise once again, being a hydrocarbon.

Reactions:
Well cyclohexane is a non-polar, hydrophobic, alicyclic hydrocarbon, so it is not very reactive. It is forcibly protonated by a superacid such as the HF + SbF5 system, leading to hydrocarbon cracking.

Substituted cyclohexanes undergo their usual reactions with little difference; halides still undergo Grignard reactions, organometallic coupling still works as per normal. Alcohols can still be substituted to give a halide, and dehydrated to obtain an alkene. Esterification also occurs as per normal.

Other random crap:
Cyclohexane is boring. At least that means I can sleep. Yay!