Functional group

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For other uses, see Functional group (disambiguation).

In organic chemistry, functional groups (or moieties) are specific groups of atoms within 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 alkanes generates a powerful systematic nomenclature for naming organic compounds.

The non-hydrogen atoms of functional groups are always associated with each other and with the rest of the molecule by covalent bonds. When the group of atoms is associated with the rest of the molecule primarily by ionic forces, the group is referred to more properly as a polyatomic ion or complex ion. And all of these are called radicals, by a meaning of the term radical that predates the free radical.

The first carbon atom after the carbon that attaches to the functional group is called the 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.

Contents

  • 1 Table of common functional groups
    • 1.1 Hydrocarbons
    • 1.2 Groups containing halogens
    • 1.3 Groups containing oxygen
    • 1.4 Groups containing nitrogen
    • 1.5 Groups containing phosphorus and sulfur
    • 1.6 Other
    • 1.7 See also
    • 1.8 External links

[edit] 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.

[edit] Hydrocarbons

Functional groups which 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
Alkane Alkyl RH alkyl- -ane
Methane
Alkene Alkenyl R2C=CR2 alkenyl- -ene
Ethylene
(Ethene)
Alkyne 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)

[edit] Groups containing halogens

Haloalkanes are a class of molecule which is defined by a carbon-halogen bond. This bond can be relatively weak (in the case of an iodoalkane) or quite stable (as in the case of a fluoroalkane). In general, with the exception of fluorinated compounds, haloalkanes readily undergo nucleophilic substitution reactions or 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
haloalkane 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)
iodoalkane iodo RI iodo- alkyl iodide
Iodomethane
(Methyl iodide)

[edit] Groups containing oxygen

Compounds which 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
Ketone Carbonyl RCOR' keto-, oxo- -one
Methyl ethyl ketone
(Butanone)
Aldehyde 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 Ether ROR' alkoxy- alkyl alkyl ether
Diethyl ether
(Ethoxyethane)
Ester 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

[edit] Groups containing nitrogen

Compounds which 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
Amide 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 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 Nitrate RONO2 nitrooxy-, nitroxy-

alkyl nitrate
Amyl nitrate
(1-nitrooxypentane)
Nitrile Nitrile RCN cyano-

alkanenitrile
alkyl cyanide
Benzonitrile
(Phenyl cyanide)
Nitrite 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

[edit] Groups containing phosphorus and sulfur

Compounds which 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 Disulfide RSSR' alkyl alkyl disulfide
Diphenyl disulfide
1,2-diphenyldisulfane

[edit] Other