Aldehydes and Ketones Overview

Flashcards covering essential vocabulary related to aldehydes and ketones.

Aldehydes

Compounds containing the functional group –CHO, characterized by a carbonyl group attached to a terminal carbon.

Ketones

Compounds containing the functional group –C(=O)R, where the carbonyl group is attached to a carbon atom within the carbon chain.

Carbonyl Group

A functional group characterized by a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom.

Nucleophilic Addition

A reaction where a nucleophile attacks an electrophilic carbonyl carbon, forming a tetrahedral intermediate.

Acetal

A compound formed from the reaction of an aldehyde or ketone with alcohol, characterized by a carbon bonded to two alkoxy groups.

Hemiacetal

An intermediate in the formation of an acetal, consisting of a carbon bonded to one alkoxy group and one hydroxyl group.

Tautomerization

A chemical reaction involving the interconversion between a keto form and its enol form.

Aldol Addition

A reaction where an enolate attacks an aldehyde or ketone to form a β-hydroxy carbonyl compound.

Grignard Reagent

An organomagnesium compound used as a nucleophile to attack carbonyl groups, forming alcohols.

Cyanohydrin

A product formed by the nucleophilic addition of cyanide to a carbonyl compound.

Tautomer

Isomers that readily interconvert by the relocation of a proton and a double bond.

Imine

A compound formed by the condensation of an aldehyde or ketone with a primary amine.

Hydride Nucleophile

A strong nucleophile that provides a hydride ion (H-) for the reduction of carbonyl compounds to alcohols.

Aldol Condensation

The process of dehydration of an aldol addition product, forming an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compound.