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Topic 9Carbonyl Compounds

The carbonyl group, C=O, is present in many organic functions. In this topic we study aldehydes and ketones: their structure and properties, how they are prepared and their reactivity, dominated by nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl group and by the chemistry of enols and enolates.

Carbonyl compounds▶ Watch the video on YouTube

The carbonyl group C=O is part of many organic functional groups.

In this topic we will study aldehydes and ketones; it is probably one of the most important chapters of the course.

Functions with a carbonyl group: aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, anhydrides, acyl halides and amides

Aldehydes and ketones

Functions with a carbonyl group: aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, anhydrides, acyl halides and amides

Nomenclature

 Animation of the charge density of formaldehyde

Physical and Bond Properties

 Animation of a molecular model of acetone turning into its enol

Acid-Base Properties

 Setup for the preparation of an aldehyde by oxidation of an alcohol with dichromate in acid, distilling off the aldehyde

Preparation

 Attack of a nucleophile on the carbon of a carbonyl group

Reactivity