Acetyl group

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Acetyl group
Acetyl group.svg
Names
IUPAC name
Acetyl (preferred to ethanoyl) [1] [2] [3]
Systematic IUPAC name
Methyloxidocarbon(•) [4] (additive)
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
AbbreviationsAc
1697938
ChEBI
ChemSpider
786
PubChem CID
  • InChI=1S/C2H3O/c1-2-3/h1H3 Yes check.svgY
    Key: TUCNEACPLKLKNU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Yes check.svgY
  • C[C]=O
Properties
C2H3O
Molar mass 43.045 g·mol−1
Thermochemistry
−15 to −9 kJ mol−1
Related compounds
Related compounds
Acetone
Carbon monoxide
Acetic acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
X mark.svgN  verify  (what is  Yes check.svgYX mark.svgN ?)

In organic chemistry, an acetyl group is a functional group denoted by the chemical formula −COCH3 and the structure −C(=O)−CH3. It is sometimes represented by the symbol Ac [5] [6] (not to be confused with the element actinium). In IUPAC nomenclature, an acetyl group is called an ethanoylgroup.

Contents

An acetyl group contains a methyl group (−CH3) that is single-bonded to a carbonyl (C=O), making it an acyl group. The carbonyl center of an acyl radical has one non-bonded electron with which it forms a chemical bond to the remainder (denoted with the letter R) of the molecule.

The acetyl moiety is a component of many organic compounds, including acetic acid, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, acetyl-CoA, acetylcysteine, acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol), and acetylsalicylic acid (also known as aspirin).

Acetylation

The process of adding an acetyl group into a molecule is called acetylation. An example of an acetylation reaction is the conversion of glycine to N-acetylglycine: [7]

H2NCH2CO2H + (CH3CO)2O → CH3C(O)NHCH2CO2H + CH3CO2H

In biology

Enzymes which perform acetylation on proteins or other biomolecules are known as acetyltransferases. In biological organisms, acetyl groups are commonly transferred from acetyl-CoA to other organic molecules. Acetyl-CoA is an intermediate in the biological synthesis and in the breakdown of many organic molecules. Acetyl-CoA is also created during the second stage of cellular respiration (pyruvate decarboxylation) by the action of pyruvate dehydrogenase on pyruvic acid. [8]

Proteins are often modified via acetylation, for various purposes. For example, acetylation of histones by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) results in an expansion of local chromatin structure, allowing transcription to occur by enabling RNA polymerase to access DNA. However, removal of the acetyl group by histone deacetylases (HDACs) condenses the local chromatin structure, thereby preventing transcription. [9]

In synthetic organic and pharmaceutical chemistry

Acetylation can be achieved by chemists using a variety of methods, most commonly with the use of acetic anhydride or acetyl chloride, often in the presence of a tertiary or aromatic amine base.

Pharmacology

Acetylated organic molecules exhibit increased ability to cross the selectively permeable blood–brain barrier.[ citation needed ] Acetylation helps a given drug reach the brain more quickly, making the drug's effects more intense and increasing the effectiveness of a given dose.[ citation needed ] The acetyl group in acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) enhances its effectiveness relative to the natural anti-inflammatant salicylic acid. In similar manner, acetylation converts the natural painkiller morphine into the far more potent heroin (diacetylmorphine).

There is some evidence that acetyl-L-carnitine may be more effective for some applications than L-carnitine. [10] Acetylation of resveratrol holds promise as one of the first anti-radiation medicines for human populations. [11]

Etymology

The term "acetyl" was coined by the German chemist Justus von Liebig in 1839 CE to describe what he incorrectly believed to be the radical of acetic acid (the main component of vinegar, aside from water), which is now known as the vinyl group (coined in 1851 CE); "acetyl" is derived from the Latin acētum, meaning "vinegar." When it was shown that Liebig's theory was wrong and acetic acid had a different radical, his name was carried over to the correct one, but the name of acetylene (coined in 1860 CE) was retained. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vinyl group</span> Chemical group (–CH=CH₂)

In organic chemistry, a vinyl group is a functional group with the formula −CH=CH2. It is the ethylene molecule with one fewer hydrogen atom. The name is also used for any compound containing that group, namely R−CH=CH2 where R is any other group of atoms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aldehyde</span> Organic compound containing the functional group R−CH=O

In organic chemistry, an aldehyde is an organic compound containing a functional group with the structure R−CH=O. The functional group itself can be referred to as an aldehyde but can also be classified as a formyl group. Aldehydes are a common motif in many chemicals important in technology and biology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acyl group</span> Chemical group (R–C=O)

In chemistry, an acyl group is a moiety derived by the removal of one or more hydroxyl groups from an oxoacid, including inorganic acids. It contains a double-bonded oxygen atom and an organyl group or hydrogen in the case of formyl group. In organic chemistry, the acyl group is usually derived from a carboxylic acid, in which case it has the formula R−C(=O)−, where R represents an organyl group or hydrogen. Although the term is almost always applied to organic compounds, acyl groups can in principle be derived from other types of acids such as sulfonic acids and phosphonic acids. In the most common arrangement, acyl groups are attached to a larger molecular fragment, in which case the carbon and oxygen atoms are linked by a double bond.

Pyruvic acid (CH3COCOOH) is the simplest of the alpha-keto acids, with a carboxylic acid and a ketone functional group. Pyruvate, the conjugate base, CH3COCOO, is an intermediate in several metabolic pathways throughout the cell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acetyl-CoA</span> Chemical compound

Acetyl-CoA is a molecule that participates in many biochemical reactions in protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Its main function is to deliver the acetyl group to the citric acid cycle to be oxidized for energy production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acetate</span> Salt compound formed from acetic acid and a base

An acetate is a salt formed by the combination of acetic acid with a base. "Acetate" also describes the conjugate base or ion typically found in aqueous solution and written with the chemical formula C
2
H
3
O
2
. The neutral molecules formed by the combination of the acetate ion and a positive ion are also commonly called "acetates". The simplest of these is hydrogen acetate with corresponding salts, esters, and the polyatomic anion CH
3
CO
2
, or CH
3
COO
.

In chemical nomenclature, the IUPAC nomenclature of organic chemistry is a method of naming organic chemical compounds as recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). It is published in the Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry. Ideally, every possible organic compound should have a name from which an unambiguous structural formula can be created. There is also an IUPAC nomenclature of inorganic chemistry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transferase</span> Class of enzymes which transfer functional groups between molecules

In biochemistry, a transferase is any one of a class of enzymes that catalyse the transfer of specific functional groups from one molecule to another. They are involved in hundreds of different biochemical pathways throughout biology, and are integral to some of life's most important processes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acyl halide</span> Oxoacid compound with an –OH group replaced by a halogen

In organic chemistry, an acyl halide is a chemical compound derived from an oxoacid by replacing a hydroxyl group with a halide group.

In chemistry, acetylation is an organic esterification reaction with acetic acid. It introduces an acetyl group into a chemical compound. Such compounds are termed acetate esters or simply acetates. Deacetylation is the opposite reaction, the removal of an acetyl group from a chemical compound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acetic anhydride</span> Organic compound with formula (CH₃CO)₂O

Acetic anhydride, or ethanoic anhydride, is the chemical compound with the formula (CH3CO)2O. Commonly abbreviated Ac2O, it is the simplest isolable anhydride of a carboxylic acid and is widely used as a reagent in organic synthesis. It is a colorless liquid that smells strongly of acetic acid, which is formed by its reaction with moisture in the air.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anisole</span> Organic compound (CH₃OC₆H₅) also named methoxybenzene

Anisole, or methoxybenzene, is an organic compound with the formula CH3OC6H5. It is a colorless liquid with a smell reminiscent of anise seed, and in fact many of its derivatives are found in natural and artificial fragrances. The compound is mainly made synthetically and is a precursor to other synthetic compounds. Structurally, it is an ether with a methyl and phenyl group attached. Anisole is a standard reagent of both practical and pedagogical value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acetyl chloride</span> Organic compound (CH₃COCl)

Acetyl chloride is an acyl chloride derived from acetic acid. It belongs to the class of organic compounds called acid halides. It is a colorless, corrosive, volatile liquid. Its formula is commonly abbreviated to AcCl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Organic acid anhydride</span> Any chemical compound having two acyl groups bonded to the same oxygen atom

An organic acid anhydride is an acid anhydride that is also an organic compound. An acid anhydride is a compound that has two acyl groups bonded to the same oxygen atom. A common type of organic acid anhydride is a carboxylic anhydride, where the parent acid is a carboxylic acid, the formula of the anhydride being (RC(O))2O. Symmetrical acid anhydrides of this type are named by replacing the word acid in the name of the parent carboxylic acid by the word anhydride. Thus, (CH3CO)2O is called acetic anhydride.Mixed (or unsymmetrical) acid anhydrides, such as acetic formic anhydride (see below), are known, whereby reaction occurs between two different carboxylic acids. Nomenclature of unsymmetrical acid anhydrides list the names of both of the reacted carboxylic acids before the word "anhydride" (for example, the dehydration reaction between benzoic acid and propanoic acid would yield "benzoic propanoic anhydride").

In organic chemistry, the acetoxy group, is a functional group with the formula −OCOCH3 and the structure −O−C(=O)−CH3. As the -oxy suffix implies, it differs from the acetyl group by the presence of an additional oxygen atom. The name acetoxy is the short form of acetyl-oxy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methylidyne radical</span> Chemical compound

Methylidyne, or (unsubstituted) carbyne, is an organic compound whose molecule consists of a single hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom. It is the parent compound of the carbynes, which can be seen as obtained from it by substitution of other functional groups for the hydrogen.

Acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) or Acetate—CoA ligase is an enzyme involved in metabolism of acetate. It is in the ligase class of enzymes, meaning that it catalyzes the formation of a new chemical bond between two large molecules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carnitine O-acetyltransferase</span> Enzyme

Carnitine O-acetyltransferase also called carnitine acetyltransferase is an enzyme that encoded by the CRAT gene that catalyzes the chemical reaction

In chemical nomenclature, a preferred IUPAC name (PIN) is a unique name, assigned to a chemical substance and preferred among all possible names generated by IUPAC nomenclature. The "preferred IUPAC nomenclature" provides a set of rules for choosing between multiple possibilities in situations where it is important to decide on a unique name. It is intended for use in legal and regulatory situations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Acetic acid</span> Colorless and faint organic acid found in vinegar

Acetic acid, systematically named ethanoic acid, is an acidic, colourless liquid and organic compound with the chemical formula CH3COOH. Vinegar is at least 4% acetic acid by volume, making acetic acid the main component of vinegar apart from water. It has been used, as a component of vinegar, throughout history from at least the third century BC.

References

  1. "List of Radical Names Beginning from "A"". Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry, Sections A, B, C, D, E, F, and H, Pergamon Press, Oxford, 1979. Copyright 1979 IUPAC.
  2. "R-5.7.1 Carboxylic acids, where acetyl appears as an example". IUPAC, Commission on Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry. A Guide to IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Compounds (Recommendations 1993), 1993, Blackwell Scientific publications, Copyright 1993 IUPAC.
  3. IUPAC Chemical Nomenclature and Structure Representation Division (2013). "P-65.1.7.2.1". In Favre, Henri A.; Powell, Warren H. (eds.). Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013. IUPACRSC. ISBN   978-0-85404-182-4.
  4. "Acetyl". Chemical Entities of Biological Interest. UK: European Bioinformatics Institute.
  5. Banik, Gregory M.; Baysinger, Grace; Kamat, Prashant V.; Pienta, Norbert, eds. (January 2020). The ACS Guide to Scholarly Communication. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society. doi:10.1021/acsguide.50308. ISBN   978-0-8412-3586-1. S2CID   262269861.
  6. Hanson, James A. (2001). Functional group chemistry. Cambridge, Eng: Royal Society of Chemistry. p. 11. ISBN   0-85404-627-5.
  7. Herbst, R. M.; Shemin, D. (1943). "Acetylglycine". Organic Syntheses ; Collected Volumes, vol. 2, p. 11.
  8. Patel, Mulchand (June 13, 2014). "The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complexes: Structure-based Function and Regulation". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 289 (24): 16615–16623. doi: 10.1074/jbc.R114.563148 . PMC   4059105 . PMID   24798336.
  9. Nelson, David L.; Cox, Michael M. (2000). Lehninger principles of biochemistry (3rd ed.). New York: Worth Publishers. ISBN   1-57259-153-6.
  10. Liu, J; Head, E; Kuratsune, H; Cotman, C. W.; Ames, B. N. (2004). "Comparison of the effects of L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine on carnitine levels, ambulatory activity, and oxidative stress biomarkers in the brain of old rats". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1033 (1): 117–31. Bibcode:2004NYASA1033..117L. doi:10.1196/annals.1320.011. PMID   15591009. S2CID   24221474.
  11. Koide, Kazunori; Osman, Sami; Garner, Amanda L.; Song, Fengling; Dixon, Tracy; Greenberger, Joel S.; Epperly, Michael W. (14 April 2011). "The Use of 3,5,4′-Tri-acetylresveratrol as a Potential Prodrug for Resveratrol Protects Mice from γ-Irradiation-Induced Death". ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. 2 (4): 270–274. doi:10.1021/ml100159p. PMC   3151144 . PMID   21826253.
  12. Constable, Edwin C.; Housecroft, Catherine E. (2020-04-20). "Before Radicals Were Free – the Radical Particulier of de Morveau". Chemistry. 2 (2): 293–304. doi: 10.3390/chemistry2020019 . ISSN   2624-8549.