A six-membered ring does not offer sufficient space to start out on an axial position (upwards), and reach the axial position of the neighboring carbon atom, which then will be on the downwards side of the molecule (see the model of cyclohexane in figure 5).

In biology this fixation is widely used in the steroid skeleton to construct molecules (such as figure 6) that play a key role in the signalling between distantly separated cells.

Oxygenation of decalin gives the tertiary hydroperoxide, which rearranges via hydroxycyclodecanone to cyclodecenone, a precursor to sebacic acid.

[5] Decalin is the saturated analog of naphthalene and can be prepared from it by hydrogenation in the presence of a catalyst.

[6] Treatment of naphthalene in a fused state with hydrogen in the presence of a copper or nickel catalyst.