Acetyl group

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Acetyl group ( blue ) as part of a molecule (left), acetyl cation (middle) and acetyl radical (right). The acetyl residue has the empirical formula C 2 H 3 O.

The term acetyl group (abbreviated: Ac ) describes the chemical structure −C (O) CH 3 , which is composed of the carbonyl and methyl groups . It is the acyl residue of acetic acid (AcOH). The name is derived from the Latin acetum = "vinegar" and from the ancient Greek ὕλη = "substance, matter".

The acetyl group occurs in many natural (biological) and synthetic molecules , e.g. B. acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin). As acetyl-coenzyme A , acetyl groups are part or starting or end products of numerous metabolic reactions . The chemical or biochemical addition of an acetyl group is called acetylation in organic chemistry , whereby hydrogen atoms are exchanged for the acetyl group. In biological systems, acetylation occurs by transferring the acetyl group from acetyl-coenzyme A to the respective substrate molecules.

See also

The acetyl group should not be confused with the acetoxy group (OAc) or acyl group . The acetate radical (acetoxy group), C 2 H 3 O 2 , contains one more oxygen atom than the acetyl radical, C 2 H 3 O.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Keyword "acetyl group." In: Herder-Lexikon der Biologie. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg 2003, ISBN 3-8274-0354-5 .
  2. ↑ Otto-Albrecht Neumüller (Ed.): Römpps Chemie-Lexikon. Volume 1: A-Cl. 8th revised and expanded edition. Franckh'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart 1979, ISBN 3-440-04511-0 , p. 47.
  3. ↑ a b Keyword “Acetylation.” In: Herder-Lexikon der Biologie. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg 2003, ISBN 3-8274-0354-5 .