Cyclopentadiene

Cyclopentadiene is an organic compound made of carbon and hydrogen. It has the chemical formula .

 Uses 
Cyclopentadiene's two double bonds are held on the same side of the single bond between them by the cycle structure. This shape is very close to the shape needed for the Diels-Alder reaction. It is much easier for cyclopentadiene to go through this reaction than other dienes. It reacts with ethylene to make norbornene, and with other alkenes to make substituted norbornenes like vinyl norbornene (from butadiene).

Cyclopentadiene is a very weak acid. It reacts with strong bases to make the aromatic cyclopentadienide anion. Sodium cyclopentadienide is an important ingredient in making metallocenes, a class of organometallic compounds used as catalysts.

 References 

Category:Dienes
Category:Hydrocarbons
Category:Cyclic compounds