Functional groupHalides
Acyl Halide (Acid Chloride)
Carbonyl with halide. Most reactive carboxylic acid derivative. Reacts violently with water.
R-COX
Octet · Functional groups
Recognise the group, predict the chemistry.
Browse functional group formulas, properties, and spectroscopy notes.
- 25 records here
- 109 spectroscopy rows
83Reactions
63Reagents
25Groups
109Reference rows
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Functional groupOxygen
Alcohol
Hydroxyl group attached to sp³ carbon. Versatile, can be oxidized or act as nucleophile.
R-OH
Functional groupOxygen
Aldehyde
Carbonyl at end of chain. Electrophilic carbon, easily oxidized to carboxylic acid.
R-CHO
Functional groupHydrocarbons
Alkane
Saturated hydrocarbons with only C-C single bonds. Least reactive functional group.
CₙH₂ₙ₊₂
Functional groupHydrocarbons
Alkene
Unsaturated hydrocarbons with C=C double bond. Nucleophilic, undergo addition reactions.
CₙH₂ₙ
Functional groupHalides
Alkyl Halide
Halogen on sp³ carbon. Undergo substitution (SN1/SN2) and elimination (E1/E2).
R-X (X = F, Cl, Br, I)
Functional groupHydrocarbons
Alkyne
Unsaturated hydrocarbons with C≡C triple bond. Terminal alkynes are weakly acidic.
CₙH₂ₙ₋₂
Functional groupNitrogen
Amide
Carbonyl + nitrogen. Very stable, found in proteins (peptide bonds).
R-CONH₂
Functional groupHalides
Aryl Halide
Halogen on aromatic ring. Less reactive than alkyl halides. Undergo SNAr or metal-catalyzed coupling.
Ar-X
Functional groupAromatics
Benzene Ring
Six-membered aromatic ring. Undergoes electrophilic aromatic substitution.
C₆H₆
Functional groupOxygen
Carboxylic Acid
Carbonyl + hydroxyl. Acidic (pKa ~5), forms carboxylate anion.
R-COOH
Functional groupSulfur
Disulfide
Two sulfurs bonded. Important in protein structure (cysteine bridges). Reducible to thiols.
R-S-S-R'
Functional groupOxygen
Epoxide
Strained 3-membered ring with oxygen. Highly reactive, opens with nucleophiles.
Cyclic ether (3-membered)
Functional groupOxygen
Ester
Carboxylic acid derivative. Pleasant odors, undergo hydrolysis and transesterification.
R-COO-R'
Functional groupOxygen
Ether
Oxygen between two carbons. Relatively unreactive, common solvents.
R-O-R'
Functional groupNitrogen
Imine (Schiff Base)
C=N double bond. Formed from aldehyde/ketone + amine. Hydrolyzable.
R-CH=N-R'
Functional groupOxygen
Ketone
Carbonyl between two carbons. Electrophilic, undergoes nucleophilic addition.
R-CO-R'
Functional groupNitrogen
Nitrile
Triple bond to nitrogen. Can be hydrolyzed to carboxylic acids or reduced to amines.
R-C≡N
Functional groupNitrogen
Nitro Group
Nitrogen with two oxygens. Strong electron-withdrawing group. Makes α-H acidic.
R-NO₂
Functional groupAromatics
Phenol
OH on benzene ring. More acidic than alcohols (pKa ~10). Activates ring for EAS.
Ar-OH
Functional groupNitrogen
Primary Amine
Nitrogen with two H atoms. Basic and nucleophilic. Fishy smell.
R-NH₂
Functional groupNitrogen
Secondary Amine
Nitrogen with one H atom. Basic and nucleophilic.
R-NH-R'
Functional groupSulfur
Sulfide (Thioether)
Sulfur analog of ether. Better nucleophile than ethers. Can be oxidized to sulfoxides/sulfones.
R-S-R'
Functional groupNitrogen
Tertiary Amine
Nitrogen with no H atoms. Basic but not H-bond donor.
R₃N
Functional groupSulfur
Thiol
Sulfur analog of alcohol. More acidic than alcohols. Distinctive smell.
R-SH