It is an alkene that is classified in industry as higher olefin and an alpha-olefin, the latter term meaning that the double bond is located at the alpha (primary) position, endowing the compound with higher reactivity and thus useful chemical properties.

1-Hexene is commonly manufactured by two general routes: (i) full-range processes via the oligomerization of ethylene and (ii) on-purpose technology.

Linde and SABIC have developed the α-SABLIN technology using the oligomerization of ethylene to produce 21 percent 1-hexene.

The synthesis recovers 1-hexene from the aforementioned fuel streams, where the initial 1-hexene concentration cut may be 60% in a narrow distillation, with the remainder being vinylidenes, linear and branched internal olefins, linear and branched paraffins, alcohols, aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and aromatic compounds.

Another significant use of 1-hexene is the production of the linear aldehyde heptanal via hydroformylation (oxo synthesis).

1-Hexene is considered dangerous because in liquid and vapor form it is highly flammable and may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.