Functional group
Acyl Halide (Acid Chloride)
Carbonyl with halide. Most reactive carboxylic acid derivative. Reacts violently with water.
HalidesR-COX
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83Reactions
63Reagents
25Groups
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Functional group
Alcohol
Hydroxyl group attached to sp³ carbon. Versatile, can be oxidized or act as nucleophile.
OxygenR-OH
Functional group
Aldehyde
Carbonyl at end of chain. Electrophilic carbon, easily oxidized to carboxylic acid.
OxygenR-CHO
Functional group
Alkane
Saturated hydrocarbons with only C-C single bonds. Least reactive functional group.
HydrocarbonsCₙH₂ₙ₊₂
Functional group
Alkene
Unsaturated hydrocarbons with C=C double bond. Nucleophilic, undergo addition reactions.
HydrocarbonsCₙH₂ₙ
Functional group
Alkyl Halide
Halogen on sp³ carbon. Undergo substitution (SN1/SN2) and elimination (E1/E2).
HalidesR-X (X = F, Cl, Br, I)
Functional group
Alkyne
Unsaturated hydrocarbons with C≡C triple bond. Terminal alkynes are weakly acidic.
HydrocarbonsCₙH₂ₙ₋₂
Functional group
Amide
Carbonyl + nitrogen. Very stable, found in proteins (peptide bonds).
NitrogenR-CONH₂
Functional group
Aryl Halide
Halogen on aromatic ring. Less reactive than alkyl halides. Undergo SNAr or metal-catalyzed coupling.
HalidesAr-X
Functional group
Benzene Ring
Six-membered aromatic ring. Undergoes electrophilic aromatic substitution.
AromaticsC₆H₆
Functional group
Carboxylic Acid
Carbonyl + hydroxyl. Acidic (pKa ~5), forms carboxylate anion.
OxygenR-COOH
Functional group
Disulfide
Two sulfurs bonded. Important in protein structure (cysteine bridges). Reducible to thiols.
SulfurR-S-S-R'
Functional group
Epoxide
Strained 3-membered ring with oxygen. Highly reactive, opens with nucleophiles.
OxygenCyclic ether (3-membered)
Functional group
Ester
Carboxylic acid derivative. Pleasant odors, undergo hydrolysis and transesterification.
OxygenR-COO-R'
Functional group
Ether
Oxygen between two carbons. Relatively unreactive, common solvents.
OxygenR-O-R'
Functional group
Imine (Schiff Base)
C=N double bond. Formed from aldehyde/ketone + amine. Hydrolyzable.
NitrogenR-CH=N-R'
Functional group
Ketone
Carbonyl between two carbons. Electrophilic, undergoes nucleophilic addition.
OxygenR-CO-R'
Functional group
Nitrile
Triple bond to nitrogen. Can be hydrolyzed to carboxylic acids or reduced to amines.
NitrogenR-C≡N
Functional group
Nitro Group
Nitrogen with two oxygens. Strong electron-withdrawing group. Makes α-H acidic.
NitrogenR-NO₂
Functional group
Phenol
OH on benzene ring. More acidic than alcohols (pKa ~10). Activates ring for EAS.
AromaticsAr-OH
Functional group
Primary Amine
Nitrogen with two H atoms. Basic and nucleophilic. Fishy smell.
NitrogenR-NH₂
Functional group
Secondary Amine
Nitrogen with one H atom. Basic and nucleophilic.
NitrogenR-NH-R'
Functional group
Sulfide (Thioether)
Sulfur analog of ether. Better nucleophile than ethers. Can be oxidized to sulfoxides/sulfones.
SulfurR-S-R'
Functional group
Tertiary Amine
Nitrogen with no H atoms. Basic but not H-bond donor.
NitrogenR₃N
Functional group
Thiol
Sulfur analog of alcohol. More acidic than alcohols. Distinctive smell.
SulfurR-SH