Other Organic
Compounds
Hydrocarbon derivatives are organic
molecules that contain one or more
elements in addition to carbon and
hydrogen.
A functional group is an atom or
group of atoms in hydrocarbon
derivatives that contain elements in
addition to carbon and hydrogen.
In developing a general
formula for types of organic
compounds, the symbol R is
used.
R represents a hydrocarbon
fragment. Example:
methyl group
The symbol R is from
the German
radikal.
A second R group is
called R and a third R
group is called R.
Alcohols
Alcohols have the
general formula
ROH.
In the case of alcohols, the
1
hydroxyl group, OH is a
substituent on a hydrocarbon.
Alcohols are named by
replacing the e on the end of
the parent hydrocarbon with
ol.
Numbering may be
necessary. The hydroxyl
group is to be on the lowest
number carbon.
Example:
CH3OH
is methanol because the R
group comes from methane.
ethanol
CH3CH2OH
1-propanol
CH3CH2CH2OH
2-propanol
CH3CHCH3

OH
6-bromo-2-methyl-2-hexanol
CH3

CH3CCH2CH2CH2CH2Br

OH
Ethers
An ether is an organic
compound in which two
hydrocarbon groups are
joined to an oxygen.
The general formula
for an ether is
ROR
It is named with
oxy in between the
R group names.
CH3OCH2CH3
is named
methoxyethane
methoxymethane
CH3OCH3
ethoxyethane
CH3CH2OCH2CH3
Ethoxyethane (commonly
called diethyl ether) was once
the ether most widely used as
an anesthetic in surgery.
Aldehydes
The carbonyl group is
C=O.
An aldehyde is an organic
compound containing the
carbonyl group bonded to at least
one hydrogen.
The general formula of an
aldehyde is
O
║
R C H
Aldehydes are named with the
suffix al instead of the usual
hydrocarbon ending.
The aldehyde carbon is always
assigned as number one for
referencing substituent positions in
the name. Therefore, numbering is
not necessary.
The name of the parent
chain includes the
carbon in the aldehyde.
CH3CH2CHO
is propanal.
ethanal
CH3CHO
butanal
CH3CH2CH2CHO
Ketones
A ketone is an organic
compound containing the
carbonyl group.
The general formula of a
ketone is
O
║
R C R
Ketones are named with the final e
being replaced by one and a
number indicates the position of the
carbonyl group where necessary.
The name of the parent
chain includes the
carbon in the ketone.
CH3COCH2CH3
is called
2-butanone.
propanone
CH3COCH3
2-pentanone
CH3COCH2CH2CH3
Carboxylic Acids
A carboxylic acid is an
organic compound
containing the carboxyl
group.
A carboxylic acid has
the general formula
RCOOH.
O
║
R C  OH
Carboxylic acids are named by
changing the suffix of the
parent hydrocarbon to oic
acid.
The carbons are numbered so
the carbon in the carboxyl
group is the number one
carbon.
CH3COOH
is
ethanoic acid.
pentanoic acid
CH3CH2CH2CH2COOH
butanoic acid
CH3CH2CH2COOH
3-bromo-2-methylbutanoic acid
Br CH3

CH3CHCHCOOH
Esters
An ester is an organic
compound produced by the
reaction between a carboxylic
acid and an alcohol.
Esters often have a sweet,
fruity odor that is in contrast to
the often pungent odors of the
parent carboxylic acids.
An ester has the
general formula
RCOOR.
O
║
R C O R 
Esters are named by naming
the R groups on either side
of the
COO group.
The R group bonded to the
oxygen will have a yl ending
and the R group bonded to the
C=O will have an oate ending.
The carbon in the carbonyl
group is counted with the
carbon to which it is
attached.
CH3CH2CH2OOCCH3
is
propyl ethanoate
octyl ethanoate
O
║
CH3CO(CH2)7CH3
methyl methanoate
HCOOCH3
isopropyl 3-methylbutanoate
CH3
CH3


CH3CHCH2COOCHCH3
Amines
An amine is an organic base derived
from ammonia in which one or more
of the hydrogen atoms are replaced
by organic groups.
An amine has the
general structure
RNH2.
Amines are named with by
changing the parent
hydrocarbon’s suffix to
amine.
ethanamine
CH3CH2NH2
Amines can be classified as primary,
secondary, or tertiary depending on
the number of NH bonds that
have been replaced by NC bonds.
CH3NH2
is a
primary amine.
(CH3)2NH
is a
secondary amine.
(CH3)3N
is a
tertiary amine.
Amides
An amide is an organic
compound whose molecules
have any one of the following
groups:
CONH2
CONHR
CONR2
Amides are named by
changing the parent
hydrocarbon’s suffix to
amide.
ethanamide
CH3CONH2
pentanamide
CH3CH2CH2CH2CONH2
Nitriles
Nitriles have the
general formula
RCN.
Nitriles are named by
adding the word “nitrile” to the
parent hydrocarbon.
butanenitrile
CH3CH2CH2CN
pentanenitrile
CH3CH2CH2CH2CN