Diisobutene


Diisobutene refers to a pair of organic compounds with the overall formula C8H16. The isomers have the same carbon skeleton but differ in the location of the C=C bond. Both are colorless liquids with very similar physical properties. These compounds arise via the acid catalyzed dimerization of isobutene, a reaction that proceeds via the carbocation. The process also leads to some triisobutenes and tetraisobutenes. The commercial material is typically a mixture of isomers, with the terminal 1-ene being the major component. The preferential formation of the less substituted alkene can be counterintuitive to chemists, but can be explained by assessing its transition state.

Applications

Hydrogenation is performed at a significant scale to give isooctane, which is an important fuel additive. Diisobutene is used as precursors to isononylol and octylphenols by hydroformylation/hydrogenation and phenol alkylation, respectively. Both are precursors to plasticizers. The isononylol is a precursor to 3,5,5-trimethylhexyl acetate, a commercial fragrance.