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SolutionsCarbonyl Compounds

1. Carbonyl-containing functional groups

What are the names of these carbonyl-containing functional groups?

Seven unnamed carbonyl functional groups: R–CHO, R–CO–R′, R–COOH, R–COOR′, (RCO)₂O, R–COCl and R–CONH₂
The seven groups with their names: aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, anhydrides, acyl halides and amides

Aldehydes (R–CHO), ketones (R–CO–R′), carboxylic acids (R–COOH), esters (R–COOR′), anhydrides (R–CO–O–CO–R′), acyl halides (R–COCl) and amides (R–CONH2).

2. Aldehyde, ketone or acid derivative

What distinguishes aldehydes and ketones from carboxylic acids and their derivatives? What is the consequence for their reactivity?

In aldehydes and ketones the carbonyl carbon is bonded only to hydrogen or carbon. In acids and their derivatives it also carries a heteroatom (O, N, halogen) that can act as a leaving group.

That is why aldehydes and ketones undergo nucleophilic addition to the C=O, whereas acid derivatives usually undergo nucleophilic acyl substitution (addition followed by elimination).

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