Lecture Notes: Organic Functional Groups

Introduction

• Organic Functional Groups: Define the identity of a molecule, akin to a name defining a person.

Basic Functional Groups

Hydrocarbons

• Definition: Compounds composed of only hydrogen and carbon.
• Subtypes of Hydrocarbons:
  • Alkane: All carbon-carbon bonds are single bonds.
  • Alkene: Contains at least one carbon-carbon double bond.
  • Alkyne: Contains at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.
  • Arene: Cyclic six-membered ring with aromaticity.

Functionalized Hydrocarbons

• Molecules made of carbon and hydrogen with additional groups.
• Examples:
  • Halides
  • Alcohols
  • Esters

Detailed Functional Groups

Halides

• Structure: Halogen (F, Cl, Br, I) attached to a carbon.

Alcohols

• Structure: OH group on a carbon that is sp3 hybridized.
• Example: Ethanol (alcoholic drink component).

Phenol

• Structure: OH group on a carbon in an arene ring.
• Reactivity: Different from alcohols.

Ethers

• Structure: Carbon-Oxygen-Carbon linkage.

Thiols

• Structure: Sulfur attached to a carbon.

Sulfides

• Structure: Similar to ethers, but with sulfur.

Disulfides

• Structure: Carbon-Sulfur-Sulfur-Carbon linkage.

Esters

• Structure: Carbon-Oxygen double bond (carbonyl) adjacent to an oxygen.
• Reactivity: Different from ethers.

Amines

• Structure: Nitrogen attached to carbon and hydrogen.
• Types: Primary, secondary, tertiary (discussed later).

Amides

• Structure: Carbonyl group with nitrogen.

Carboxylic Acids

• Structure: Carbonyl group with OH attached.
• Relevance: Important in biology.

Anhydrides

• Structure: Two carbonyl groups flanking an oxygen.

Nitro Groups

• Structure: NO2 group attached to a carbon.
• Activity: Useful for exercises on Lewis dot structures and formal charges.

Aldehydes and Ketones

• Aldehydes: Carbonyl group with hydrogen on carbon.
• Ketones: Carbonyl group with two carbon groups.

Conclusion

• Overview of key organic functional groups.
• Mention of additional groups like acid chlorides to be covered later.
• Encouragement to engage in office hours and discussion sections.