Cyclohexane

Cyclohexane is a cycloalkane with the molecular formula C₆H₁₂. Cyclohexane is non-polar. Cyclohexane is a colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive detergent-like odor, reminiscent of cleaning products (in which it is sometimes used). Cyclohexane is mainly used for the industrial production of adipic acid and caprolactam, which are precursors to nylon.

Quotes

• Substituted cyclohexanes are the most common cycloalkanes and occur widely in nature. A large number of compounds, including steroids and many pharma ceutical agents, have cyclohexane rings. The flavoring agent menthol, for instance, has three substituents on a six-membered ring. … Cyclohexane adopts a strain-free, three-dimensional shape that is called a chair conformation because of its similarity to a lounge chair, with a back, seat, and footrest … The easiest way to visualize chair cyclohexane is to build a molecular model. … In addition to the chair conformation of cyclohexane, an alternative called the twist-boat conformation is also nearly free of angle strain.
  • John McMurry, Organic Chemistry 8th ed. (2012), Ch. 4: Organic Compounds: Cycloalkanes and Their Stereochemistry

• The chair conformation of cyclohexane leads to many consequences. … the chemical behavior of many substituted cyclohexanes is influenced by their conformation. … Another consequence of the chair conformation is that there are two kinds of positions for substituents on the cyclohexane ring: axial positions and equatorial positions … each carbon atom in chair cyclohexane has one axial and one equatorial hydrogen. Furthermore, each face of the ring has three axial and three equatorial hydrogens in an alternating arrangement.
  • John McMurry, Organic Chemistry 8th ed. (2012), Ch. 4: Organic Compounds: Cycloalkanes and Their Stereochemistry