Lecture Notes: Functional Groups in Organic Chemistry

Introduction

• Focus on functional groups in organic chemistry.
• Understanding different types of hydrocarbons and their classifications.

Alkanes

• Definition: Hydrocarbons with single carbon-hydrogen bonds.
• Characteristics: No double or triple bonds.
• Examples:
  • Methane (1 carbon)
  • Ethane (2 carbons)
  • Propane (3 carbons)
  • Butane (4 carbons)
  • Pentane (5 carbons)
  • Hexane (6 carbons)
  • Heptane (7 carbons)
  • Octane (8 carbons)
  • Nonane (9 carbons)
  • Decane (10 carbons)

Alkenes

• Definition: Hydrocarbons with at least one carbon-carbon double bond.
• Nomenclature: Identified by the position of the double bond.
• Example: 2-butene (double bond between carbons 2 and 3).

Alkynes

• Definition: Hydrocarbons with at least one carbon-carbon triple bond.
• Example: 2-butyne.

Cycloalkanes

• Definition: Alkanes arranged in a circular structure.
• Examples:
  • Cyclopentane (5 carbons)
  • Cyclohexane (6 carbons)

Aromatic Rings

• Definition: Cyclic structures with alternating double bonds.
• Common Example: Benzene.

Alkyl Halides (Haloalkanes)

• Definition: Hydrocarbons with a halogen.
• Functional Group: RX, where X is a halogen (Cl, Br, F, I).

Ethers

• Structure: Oxygen attached to two R groups (e.g., dimethyl ether).
• Polarity: Generally polar due to oxygen.

Alcohols

• Definition: OH group attached to an R group.
• Examples:
  • 1-butanol (OH on carbon 1)
  • 2-butanol (OH on carbon 2)

Ketones and Aldehydes

• Ketones: Carbonyl group (C=O) attached within carbon chain (e.g., 2-pentanone).
• Aldehydes: Carbonyl group at the end of the carbon chain (e.g., hexanal).

Carboxylic Acids

• Structure: RCOOH.
• Example: Hexanoic acid.

Esters

• Structure: RCOOR.
• Nomenclature: Methyl ethanoate.

Amines and Amides

• Amines: NH2 group (e.g., methylamine, ethylamine).
• Amides: Carbonyl group attached to NH2 (e.g., butanamide).

Nitriles

• Structure: Triple bond between carbon and nitrogen.
• Example: Ethanitrile.

Acid Anhydrides and Chlorides

• Anhydrides: Acetic anhydride.
• Chlorides: Acetyl chloride.

Thiols and Thioethers

• Thiols: SH group, similar to alcohols.
• Thioethers: Sulfur replacing oxygen in an ether.

Enols and Enamines

• Enols: Alkene and alcohol together.
• Enamines: Amine attached to an alkene.

Imines and Organic Peroxides

• Imines: Carbon double-bonded to nitrogen.
• Peroxides: Two oxygens attached; organic peroxide with a peroxide group.

Peroxy Acids and Nitro Groups

• Peroxy Acids: Carboxylic acid with a peroxide group.
• Nitro Groups: NO2 group.

Carbocations, Radicals, and Carbanions

• Carbocations: Positively charged carbon species.
• Radicals: Odd number of electrons.
• Carbanions: Negatively charged carbon species.
• Carbenes: Neutral species with divalent carbon.

Resources

• Mention of additional study resources available on Patreon and Vimeo for organic chemistry courses.