Prismanes
![[3]Asterane (left) and [4]asterane](/uploads/202502/04/3Asterane3139.png)

![Bi[5]prismane (left) and tri[4]prismane](/uploads/202502/04/Poly-n-prismane3139.png)

The prismanes are a class of hydrocarbon compounds consisting of prism-like polyhedra of various numbers of sides on the polygonal base. Chemically, it is a series of fused cyclobutane rings (a ladderane, with all-cis/all-syn geometry) that wraps around to join its ends and form a band, with cycloalkane edges. Their chemical formula is (C2H2)n, where n is the number of cyclobutane sides (the size of the cycloalkane base), and that number also forms the basis for a system of nomenclature within this class. The first few chemicals in this class are: