Functional groups

Rules for naming Functional Groups

1.) The parent hydrocarbon is the longest continuous chain containing the functional group. 2.) The chain is numbered to give the functional group the lowest possible number. *no number is needed when the funtional group is on a ring (it is assumed to be one). 3.) If there is a functional group as well as a substituent, the functional group gets the lowest possible number. 4.) If the functional group has the same number regardless of which direction it is numbered, make sure the substituent has the next lowest possible number. 5.) If there is more than one substituent, list them in alphabetical order. General structure: [substituents][parent hydrocarbon][functional group]

Alcohol

A compound having the general structure ROH. An alcohol contains a hydroxy group (OH group) bonded to an sp3 hybridized carbon atom. Alcohols are classified like halides and hydrogens; primary (1°), secondary (2°), or tertiary (3°) depending on the number of carbons bonded to the carbon with the halogen. *To name, remove the "-e" from the end of the hydrocarbon name and add "-ol" ex.) 4,4-dimethylhexan-2-ol

Ketone

A compound with two alkyl groups bonded to the C=O carbon atom, having the general structures R2C=O or RCOR'.

Ether

A functional group that consists of an oxygen bonded to 2 carbons; R-O-R. The R-groups are usually sp3 hybridized. The addition of non-hydrogen, non-carbon groups changes the class of functional group. There are two categories of ethers based on the groups bonded to the oxygen - symmetric (identical R-groups) and asymmetric (different R-groups). *To name acyclic ethers; identify the largest carbon chain and treat the O-R fragment as a substituent. *O-R is named by removing "-ane" from alkane name and adding "-oxy". ex.)-O-CH3 = methoxy -O-C2H5 = ethoxy -O-C3H7 = propoxy etc...

Carbonyl

A functional group that contains a carbon-oxygen double bond (C=O). The polar carbon-oxygen bond makes the carbonyl carbon electrophilic.

Alkene

An aliphatic hydrocarbon (liniar chain) that contains a carbon-carbon double bond. *To name; drop "-ane" and replace with "-ene"

Alkyne

An aliphatic hydrocarbon (liniar chain) that contains a carbon-carbon triple bond.

Functional Group

An atom or a group of atoms with characteristic chemical and physical properties. It is the reactive part of the molecule.

Carboxylic Acid

An organic compound that has a carboxyl group. The carboxyl group is a functional group that contains a carbon-oxygen double bond and an OH group also attached to the same carbon atom, but it has characteristic properties of its own.

Amine

Compounds in which one or more hydrogens off of ammonia have been replaced by alkyl groups. Amines are classified as primary (1°), secondary (2°), or tertiary (3°) based on the number of carbons bonded to the nitrogen. RNH2 = 1° R2NH = 2° R3N = 3° *Naming amines; replace the "-e" on the parent hydrocarbon with "amine". *The name of the group bonded to the nitrogen is preceded by an italic 'N'. ex.) N - methylpentan-3-amine

Aldehyde

Organic compound containing a formyl group. The formyl group is a functional group, with the structure R-CHO, consisting of a carbonyl center (a carbon double bonded to oxygen) bonded to hydrogen and an R group, which is any generic alkyl or side chain.

Ester

Organic compound derived from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol in which the OH of the acid is replaced by an OR group, looks somewhat like an ether and also somewhat like a carboxylic acid. Even so, compounds in this group react neither like carboxylic acids nor like ethers; they make up a distinctive family. Unlike ethers, esters have a carbonyl group. Unlike carboxylic acids, esters have no acidic hydrogen atom; they have a hydrocarbon group in its place.

Aromatic

Organic compounds that contain benzene as a part of their structure. Benzene is a cyclic hydrocarbon with the formula C6H6.

Amide

Organic compounds whose molecules have a carbonyl (C=O) nitrogen bond. They are the product formed in a reaction between a carboxylic acid and an amine.

Alkyl Halide

Organic molecules containing a halogen atom 'X' bonded to an sp3 hybridized carbon atom. Alkyl halides are classified as primary (1°), secondary (2°), or tertiary (3°) depending on the number of carbons bonded to the carbon with the halogen. Alkyl halides are formally derived from an alkane by replacing a hydrogen atom with a halogen. *Alkyl halides are named like substituents on an alkane. *Halogen prefix; chage "-ine" to "-o" ex.) 1-bromobutane