Polyene
What is Polyene?
Polyenes are organic compounds containing multiple conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds (C=C) alternating with single bonds in a chain. The extended pi system of polyenes results in progressively lower excitation energies and absorption at longer wavelengths as the number of double bonds increases, which is responsible for the colors of many natural pigments such as beta-carotene and lycopene. Polyenes are important in biochemistry (as vitamins, pigments, and hormones) and in the synthesis of conducting polymers.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Polyenes are organic compounds containing multiple conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds (C=C) alternating with single bonds in a chain. The extended pi system of polyenes results in progressively lower excitation energies and absorption at longer wavelengths as the number of double bonds increases, which is responsible for the colors of many natural pigments such as beta-carotene and lycopene. Polyenes are important in biochemistry (as vitamins, pigments, and hormones) and in the synthesis of conducting polymers.