Polyene
hydrocarbon with more than one double bond
In organic chemistry, polyenes are polyunsaturated organic compounds that contain multiple carbon–carbon double bonds (C=C). Some sources consider dienes to be polyenes, whereas others require polyenes to contain three carbon–carbon double bonds (trienes) or more.
Conjugated polyenes contain a conjugated system of alternating single and double carbon–carbon bonds, with characteristic optical properties.
Annulenes are conjugated cyclopolyenes.
The following polyenes are used as antifungals for humans: amphotericin B, nystatin, candicidin, pimaricin, methyl partricin, and trichomycin.
Optical properties
Some polyenes are brightly colored, an otherwise rare property for a hydrocarbon. Normally alkenes absorb in the ultraviolet region of a spectrum, but the absorption energy state of polyenes with numerous conjugated double bonds can be lowered such that they enter the visible region of the spectrum, resulting in compounds which are coloured (because they contain a chromophore). Thus many natural dyes contain linear polyenes.
Chemical and electrical properties
Polyenes tend to be more reactive than simpler alkenes. For example, polyene-containing triglycerides degrade in atmospheric oxygen via the process of rancidification and drying.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Polyene” is hydrocarbon with more than one double bond. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Polyene, hydrocarbon and more, not as a finished interpretation.
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The phrase “hydrocarbon with more than one double bond” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated May 30, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2519471. The Library of Congress control number is sh86005602. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 1 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
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This entry incorporates text from “Polyene” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.