Functional group





In molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. The same functional group will undergo the same or similar chemical reaction(s) regardless of the size of the molecule it is a part of.

Combining the names of functional groups with the names of the parent organic compounds.

The non-hydrogen atoms of functional groups are always associated with each other and with the rest of the molecule by free radical.

The first alpha carbon.

Functional groups are attached to the carbon backbone of organic molecules. They determine the characteristics and chemical reactivity of molecules. Functional groups are far less stable than the carbon backbone and are likely to participate in chemical reactions.

Table of common functional groups

The following is a list of common functional groups. In the formulas, the symbols R and R' usually denote an attached hydrogen, or a hydrocarbon side chain of any length, but may sometimes refer to any group of atoms.

Hydrocarbons

Functional groups that vary based upon the number and order of π bonds impart different chemistry. Each listing below contains C-H bonds, but each one differs in type (and scope) of reactivity.

Chemical class Group Formula Structural Formula Prefix Suffix Example
Alkyl RH alkyl- -ane
Methane
Alkenyl R2C=CR2 alkenyl- -ene
Ethylene
(Ethene)
Alkynyl RC≡CR' alkynyl- -yne
Acetylene
(Ethyne)
Benzene derivative Phenyl RC6H5 phenyl- -benzene
Cumene
(2-phenylpropane)
Toluene derivative Benzyl RCH2C6H5
RBn 		benzyl- 1-(substituent)toluene
Benzyl bromide
(1-Bromotoluene)

Groups containing halogens

Haloalkanes are a class of molecule that is defined by a carbon-elimination reactions. The substitution on the carbon, the acidity of an adjacent proton, the solvent conditions, etc. all can influence the outcome of the reactivity.

Chemical class Group Formula Structural Formula Prefix Suffix Example
halo RX halo- alkyl halide
Chloroethane
(Ethyl chloride)
fluoroalkane fluoro RF fluoro- alkyl fluoride
Fluoromethane
(Methyl fluoride)
chloroalkane chloro RCl chloro- alkyl chloride
Chloromethane
(Methyl chloride)
bromoalkane bromo RBr bromo- alkyl bromide
Bromomethane
(Methyl bromide)
iodo RI iodo- alkyl iodide
Iodomethane
(Methyl iodide)

Groups containing oxygen

Compounds that contain C-O bonds each possess differing reactivity based upon the location and hybridization of the C-O bond, owing to the electron-withdrawing effect of sp² hybridized oxygen and the donating effects of sp³ hybridized oxygen.

Chemical class Group Formula Structural Formula Prefix Suffix Example
Acyl halide Haloformyl RCOX haloformyl- -oyl halide
Acetyl chloride
(Ethanoyl chloride)
Alcohol Hydroxyl ROH hydroxy- -ol
Methanol
Carbonyl RCOR' keto-, oxo- -one
Methyl ethyl ketone
(Butanone)
Aldehyde RCHO aldo- -al
Acetaldehyde
(Ethanal)
Carbonate Carbonate ester ROCOOR alkyl carbonate
Carboxylate Carboxylate RCOO−
carboxy- -oate
Sodium acetate
(Sodium ethanoate)
Carboxylic acid Carboxyl RCOOH carboxy- -oic acid
Acetic acid
(Ethanoic acid)
Ether ROR' alkoxy- alkyl alkyl ether
Diethyl ether
(Ethoxyethane)
Ester RCOOR' alkyl alkanoate
Ethyl butyrate
(Ethyl butanoate)
Hydroperoxide Hydroperoxy ROOH hydroperoxy- alkyl hydroperoxide
Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide
Peroxide Peroxy ROOR peroxy- alkyl peroxide
Di-tert-butyl peroxide

Groups containing nitrogen

Compounds that contain Nitrogen in this category may contain C-O bonds, such as in the case of amides.

Chemical class Group Formula Structural Formula Prefix Suffix Example
Carboxamide RCONR2 carboxamido- -amide
Acetamide
(Ethanamide)
Amines Primary amine RNH2 amino- -amine
Methylamine
(Methanamine)
Secondary amine R2NH amino- -amine
Dimethylamine
Tertiary amine R3N amino- -amine
Trimethylamine
4° ammonium ion R4N+ ammonio- -ammonium
Choline
Imine Primary ketimine RC(=NH)R' imino- -imine
Secondary ketimine RC(=NR)R' imino- -imine
Primary aldimine RC(=NH)H imino- -imine
Secondary aldimine RC(=NR')H imino- -imine
Imide RC(=O)NC(=O)R' imido- -imide
Azide Azide RN3 azido- alkyl azide
Phenyl azide
(Azidobenzene)
Azo compound Azo
(Diimide) 		RN2R' azo- -diazene
Methyl orange
(p-dimethylamino-azobenzenesulfonic acid)
Cyanates Cyanate ROCN cyanato- alkyl cyanate
Isocyanide RNC isocyano- alkyl isocyanide
Isocyanates Isocyanate RNCO isocyanato- alkyl isocyanate
Methyl isocyanate
Isothiocyanate RNCS isothiocyanato- alkyl isothiocyanate
Allyl isothiocyanate
Nitrate RONO2 nitrooxy-, nitroxy-

alkyl nitrate


Amyl nitrate
(1-nitrooxypentane)
Nitrile RCN cyano-

alkanenitrile
alkyl cyanide


Benzonitrile
(Phenyl cyanide)
Nitrosooxy RONO nitrosooxy-

alkyl nitrite


Amyl nitrite
(3-methyl-1-nitrosooxybutane)
Nitro compound Nitro RNO2 nitro-  
Nitromethane
Nitroso compound Nitroso RNO nitroso-  
Nitrosobenzene
Pyridine derivative Pyridyl RC5H4N




4-pyridyl
(pyridin-4-yl)

3-pyridyl
(pyridin-3-yl)

2-pyridyl
(pyridin-2-yl)

-pyridine
Nicotine

Groups containing phosphorus and sulfur

Compounds that contain sulfur and phosphorus exhibit unique chemistry due to their ability to form more bonds than nitrogen and oxygen, their lighter analogues on the periodic table.

Chemical class Group Formula Structural Formula Prefix Suffix Example
Phosphine Phosphino R3P phosphino- -phosphane
Methylpropylphosphane
Phosphodiester Phosphate HOPO(OR)2 phosphoric acid di(substituent) ester di(substituent) hydrogenphosphate DNA
Phosphonic acid Phosphono RP(=O)(OH)2 phosphono- substituent phosphonic acid
Benzylphosphonic acid
Phosphate Phosphate ROP(=O)(OH)2 phospho-
Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate
Sulfide or thioether RSR' di(substituent) sulfide
Dimethyl sulfide
Sulfone Sulfonyl RSO2R' sulfonyl- di(substituent) sulfone
Dimethyl sulfone
(Methylsulfonylmethane)
Sulfonic acid Sulfo RSO3H sulfo- substituent sulfonic acid
Benzenesulfonic acid
Sulfoxide Sulfinyl RSOR' sulfinyl- di(substituent) sulfoxide
Diphenyl sulfoxide
Thiol Sulfhydryl RSH mercapto-, sulfanyl- -thiol
Ethanethiol
(Ethyl mercaptan)
Thiocyanate Thiocyanate RSCN thiocyanato- alkyl thiocyanate
Disulfide RSSR' alkyl alkyl disulfide
Diphenyl disulfide
1,2-diphenyldisulfane

Other

See also

  • Compendium of Chemical Terminology (IUPAC "Gold Book")
v • d • e
Thiol
 
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Functional_group". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.