Other Organic Compounds

Hydrocarbon derivatives are

organic molecules that contain one or more elements in

addition to carbon and hydrogen.

A functional group is an atom or group of

atoms in hydrocarbon derivatives that

contain elements in addition to carbon and

hydrogen.

In developing a general formula

for types of organic

compounds, the symbol R is

used.

R represents a hydrocarbon fragment. Example:

methyl group

The symbol R is from the

German radikal.

A second R group is called R and a third

R group is called R.

Alcohols

Alcohols have the general

formula ROH.

In the case of alcohols, the

hydroxyl group, OH1 is a

substituent on a hydrocarbon.

Alcohols are named by

replacing the e on the end of the

parent hydrocarbon with

ol.

Numbering may be necessary. The hydroxyl

group is to be on the lowest

number carbon.

Example:CH3OH

is methanol because the R

group comes from methane.

ethanol

CH3CH2OH

1-propanol

CH3CH2CH2OH

2-propanolCH3CHCH3

OH

6-bromo-2-methyl-2-hexanol

CH3

CH3CCH2CH2CH2CH2Br

OH

Ethers

An ether is an organic

compound in which two

hydrocarbon groups are joined

to an oxygen.

The general formula for an

ether is ROR

It is named with oxy in between the

R group names.

CH3OCH2CH3

is named methoxyetha

ne

CH3OCH3

methoxymethane

CH3CH2OCH2CH

3

ethoxyethane

Ethoxyethane (commonly called diethyl ether) was

once the ether most widely used

as an anesthetic in surgery.

Aldehydes

The carbonyl group is C=O.

An aldehyde is an organic compound

containing the carbonyl group

bonded to at least one hydrogen.

The general formula of an aldehyde is

O║

R C H

Aldehydes are named with the

suffix al instead of the usual

hydrocarbon ending.

The aldehyde carbon is always assigned as

number one for referencing

substituent positions in the name.

Therefore, numbering is not necessary.

The name of the parent

chain includes the carbon in the aldehyde.

CH3CH2CHOis propanal.

CH3CHO

ethanal

CH3CH2CH2CHO

butanal

Ketones

A ketone is an organic

compound containing the

carbonyl group.

The general formula of a ketone is

O║

R C R

Ketones are named with the final e being replaced by one and a number indicates the position of the

carbonyl group where necessary.

The name of the parent

chain includes the carbon in the ketone.

CH3COCH2CH3

is called 2-butanone.

CH3COCH3

propanone

CH3COCH2CH2CH3

2-pentanone

Carboxylic Acids

A carboxylic acid is an organic compound

containing the carboxyl group.

A carboxylic acid has the

general formulaRCOOH.

O║

R C OH

Carboxylic acids are named by changing the suffix of the

parent hydrocarbon to

oic acid.

The carbons are numbered so the

carbon in the carboxyl group is the number one

carbon.

CH3COOH is

ethanoic acid.

CH3CH2CH2CH2COOH

pentanoic acid

CH3CH2CH2COOH

butanoic acid

Br CH3

CH3CHCHCOOH

3-bromo-2-methylbutanoic acid

Esters

An ester is an organic compound produced by the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.

Esters often have a sweet, fruity odor that is in contrast to the often pungent odors of the

parent carboxylic acids.

An ester has the general

formulaRCOOR.

O║

R C O R

Esters are named by

naming the R groups on either

side of the COO group.

The R group bonded to the oxygen will have a yl ending and the R group

bonded to the C=O will have an oate

ending.

The carbon in the carbonyl

group is counted with the carbon

to which it is attached.

CH3CH2CH2OOCCH3

ispropyl ethanoate

O║

CH3CO(CH2)7CH3

octyl ethanoate

HCOOCH3

methyl methanoate

CH3 CH3

CH3CHCH2COOCHCH3

isopropyl 3-methylbutanoate

Amines

An amine is an organic base derived

from ammonia in which one or more of the hydrogen atoms

are replaced by organic groups.

An amine has the general structureRNH2.

Amines are named with by changing the

parent hydrocarbon’s

suffix to amine.

CH3CH2NH2

ethanamine

Amines can be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary

depending on the number of NH bonds

that have been replaced by NC

bonds.

CH3NH2

is a primary amine.

(CH3)2NHis a

secondary amine.

(CH3)3Nis a

tertiary amine.

Amides

An amide is an organic compound whose molecules have any one of

the following groups:

CONH2

CONHR CONR2

Amides are named by

changing the parent

hydrocarbon’s suffix to amide.

CH3CONH2

ethanamide

CH3CH2CH2CH2CONH

2

pentanamide

Nitriles

Nitriles have the general

formulaRCN.

Nitriles are named by

adding the word “nitrile” to the

parent hydrocarbon.

CH3CH2CH2CN

butanenitrile

CH3CH2CH2CH2CN

pentanenitrile