Pharmaceutically Important Organic Compounds

Vocabulary flashcards covering key organic compounds and concepts important for pharmaceutical studies.

Aliphatic Hydrocarbons

Straight or branched carbon chains, used primarily as solvents, fuels, or intermediates.

Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbons that contain a benzene ring and serve as starting materials for many drugs.

Alkyl Halides

Compounds containing halogens, common in anesthetics and anticancer drugs.

Alcohols

Compounds featuring a -OH group that are widely used as solvents and disinfectants.

Phenols

Compounds that have an aromatic ring plus an -OH group, known for their strong antiseptic properties.

Ethers

Compounds with an oxygen atom between two carbon atoms, utilized as anesthetics and solvents.

Thiol & Thioethers

Compounds containing sulfur, important in detoxification and as antioxidants.

Aldehydes

Compounds characterized by the -CHO group, commonly used as disinfectants and intermediates.

Ketones

Organic compounds with a carbonyl group (C=O) situated in the middle, crucial in various drugs.

Carboxylic Acids

Compounds containing a -COOH group, prevalent in pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Esters

Derived from the reaction of an acid and an alcohol, used in anesthetics and hormones.

Amides

Compounds containing the -CONH₂ group, found in analgesics and anticonvulsants.

Amines

Organic compounds that contain nitrogen and primarily act on the nervous system and hormones.

Isomerism

The phenomenon where two or more compounds share the same molecular formula but differ in structural arrangement.

Constitutional Isomers

Compounds with the same formula but different connectivity of their atoms.

Stereoisomers

Compounds with the same formula and bonding but different spatial arrangements.

Chirality

The property of a molecule that makes it non-superimposable on its mirror image.

Cis-Trans Isomerism

A form of stereoisomerism due to restricted rotation around a double bond.

Optical Isomerism

The appearance of enantiomers that are mirror images of each other, exhibiting different biological effects.

Enantiomers

Stereoisomers that are non-superimposable mirror images.

R/S Configuration

A nomenclature system to specify the 3D orientation of chiral molecules based on priority rules.

Diastereomers

Stereoisomers that are not mirror images of each other.