Carbonyl Group: Reactivity and Versatility in Organic Synthesis

Carbonyl group

– suffix al- Common names include * formaldehyde for methanal (R = H)* Acetyldehyde for ethanal ( R = CH3)* Propionaldehyde for propanal (R = CH3CH2)

The carbonyl group is a functional group that includes a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O). This group is highly polar, with the oxygen atom being slightly negative and the carbon atom being slightly positive. The carbonyl group is found in a variety of organic molecules, including aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amides, and many more.

In aldehydes, the carbonyl group is located at the end of the carbon chain, while in ketones, it is located in the middle of the carbon chain. Aldehydes and ketones are both important classes of organic compounds due to their reactivity and versatility in organic synthesis.

Carbonyl compounds can undergo a variety of reactions, such as nucleophilic addition reactions, reduction reactions, and oxidation reactions. One of the most important reactions of carbonyl compounds is nucleophilic addition reactions, where the carbonyl group is attacked by a nucleophile, leading to the formation of a new covalent bond. This reaction is commonly used in organic synthesis to form new carbon-carbon or carbon-oxygen bonds.

In summary, the carbonyl group is a highly reactive functional group that is found in many organic molecules. Its reactivity and versatility make it an important group in organic synthesis, and it is a key feature in many important classes of organic compounds.

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