Terminal alkene

[1] This location of a double bond enhances the reactivity of the compound and makes it useful for a number of applications.

A whole other approach to alpha-olefins, especially long chain derivatives, involves cracking of waxes:[2] In the PACOL process (paraffin conversion to olefins), linear alkanes are dehydrogenated over a platinum-based catalyst.

A major portion of medium or long chain derivatives are converted to detergents and plasticizers.

Long chain alpha-olefins are also oligomerized to give medium molecular weight oils that serve as lubricants.

Alkylation of benzene with alpha-olefins followed by ring-sulfonation gives linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LABS) which are biodegradable detergents.

Hex-1-ene , a typical alpha-olefin.
The blue numbers show the IUPAC numbering of the atoms in the backbone chain of the molecule. The red symbols show the common nomenclature labeling of the main chain atoms. The double bond of an alpha olefin is between the #1 and #2 (IUPAC) or α and β (common) carbon atoms.