Functional Groups and Classification

Alcohols

• Identification: Alcohols contain an OH group.
• Classification:
  • Primary Alcohol: The carbon bonded to the OH is attached to one other carbon.
    • Example: If OH is on a carbon attached to only one other carbon, it's a primary alcohol.
  • Secondary Alcohol: The carbon bonded to the OH is attached to two other carbons.
  • Tertiary Alcohol: The carbon bonded to the OH is attached to three other carbons.
    • Example: If OH is on a carbon attached to three other carbons, it's a tertiary alcohol.

Alkyl Halides

• Identification: Halogens (like Cl, Br, I) attached to an alkane.
• Classification:
  • Primary Alkyl Halide: The carbon bonded to the halogen is attached to one other carbon.
  • Secondary Alkyl Halide: The carbon bonded to the halogen is attached to two other carbons.
    • Example: A chlorine bonded to a carbon that connects to two other carbons is a secondary alkyl halide.
  • Tertiary Alkyl Halide: The carbon bonded to the halogen is attached to three other carbons.

Benzylic Halides

• A type of alkyl halide where the halogen is on the benzylic carbon (one carbon away from a benzene ring).
• Classification similar to alkyl halides based on the carbon attachment.
  • Example: If iodine is on a benzylic carbon attached to three other carbons, it's a tertiary benzylic halide.

Amines

• Identification: Contains nitrogen bonded to carbon(s).
• Classification:
  • Primary Amine: The nitrogen is bonded to one carbon.
    • Example: Even if the carbon is secondary, if nitrogen is attached to one carbon, it's a primary amine.
  • Secondary Amine: The nitrogen is bonded to two carbons.
    • Example: A nitrogen bonded to two carbons is a secondary amine.
  • Tertiary Amine: The nitrogen is bonded to three carbons.
    • Example: A nitrogen attached to three carbon atoms.

Key Points

• For alcohols and alkyl halides, focus on the carbon to which the functional group is attached.
• For amines, focus on the nitrogen and how many carbon atoms are directly bonded to it.
• The carbon's own classification (primary, secondary, tertiary) does not determine the amine type.