Hexadecane (also called cetane) is an alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula C₁₆H₃₄. Hexadecane consists of a chain of 16 carbon atoms, with three hydrogen atoms bonded to the two end carbon atoms, and two hydrogens bonded to each of the 14 other carbon atoms. Isohexadecane is a branch chained isomer of hexadecane.^[9]

Cetane is often used as a shorthand for cetane number, a measure of the combustion of diesel fuel.^[10] Cetane ignites very easily under compression; for this reason, it is assigned a cetane number of 100, and serves as a reference for other fuel mixtures.^[11]

Hexadecyl is an alkyl radical of carbon and hydrogen derived from hexadecane, with formula C₁₆H₃₃ and with mass 225.433,^[12] occurring especially in cetyl alcohol.^[13] It confers strong hydrophobicity on molecules containing it.^[14] Carboplatin modified with hexadecyl and polyethylene glycol has increased liposolubility and PEGylation, proposed to useful in chemotherapy, specifically non-small-cell lung cancer.^[15]

Hexadecyl was used from 1982 for radiolabelling,^[16] and this continues to be useful,^[17] for example for radiolabelling exosomes and hydrogels,^[18] and for positron emission tomography.^[19]

Hexadecyl platelet-activating factor has profound effects on the lung,^[20] and hexadecyl glyceryl ether participates in the biosynthesis of plasmalogens.^[21]

• Cetane index
• Isocetane
• Higher alkanes

• Haynes, William M., ed. (2016). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (97th ed.). CRC Press. ISBN 9781498754293.

• Vapor pressure and liquid density calculation
• Technique to determine hexadecane transfer