Alicyclic Compounds
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Alicyclic compounds are carbocyclic compounds that share properties with aliphatic compounds while differing from aromatic compounds. They include saturated and unsaturated variants, named with the prefix 'cyclo-' based on the corresponding aliphatic series. These compounds, such as polymethylenes and terpenes, vary in ring stability depending on the number of carbon atoms.
Encyclopedia article (1928–1936)
ALICYCLIC COMPOUNDS, carbocyclic compounds that in their properties are similar to compounds of the aliphatic (fatty) series and differ from compounds of the aromatic series. Among alicyclic compounds, saturated and unsaturated compounds are encountered. Names are given to alicyclic compounds according to the names of the corresponding compounds of the fatty series with the addition of "cyclo-". Since saturated alicyclic compounds consist of methylene groups CH2 linked to each other in the form of rings, they are also called polymethylene compounds. Depending on the number of carbon atoms located in the cycle, these hydrocarbons can be three-membered, four-membered, and so on, e.g.: CH,
CH,-CH,
CH,
/ \
CH, CH,
CH, CH, CH, CH, CH, CH, \ / CH, cyclopro- cyclobu- cyclopen
cyclo- pan
tan
tan
hexane (trimethy- (tetrame- (pentame- (hexame-lene)
tylene)
tylene)
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CH=;CH/ CH, cyclohexene cyclopentadiene The strength of the cycles of alicyclic compounds, i.e., their tendency to cleavage and conversion into fatty compounds, is very different. Of particular interest are six-membered cycles due to their structural relationship with aromatic compounds (see). Alicyclic compounds are often found in plants in the form of terpenes. The so-called naphthenes, which make up the main part of Baku petroleum, also belong to alicyclic compounds.
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“Alicyclic Compounds.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/alicyclic-compounds/