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Chapter 2
Functional Groups
As we have seen in the previous chapter, the hydrocarbon skeleton is responsible for
the shape and flexibility of organic molecules. In the case of alkane molecules, the
molecular structure is based on tetrahedral units and the molecular dynamics is the
consequence of relatively free rotations about the carbon-carbon single bonds.
These rotations give rise to different conformations. However, with the exception
of small-ring molecules, the alkanes, as compounds containing only carbon and
hydrogen, are relatively weakly reactive substances.
Most organic molecules which exhibit chemical reactivity have an incorporated
active structural unit called the functional group. In the structural formula the
unspecified group, the substituent, bound to the hydrocarbon skeleton is labeled as
R. To be chemically active, the functional group must possess high energy electrons
which can be either the electrons in the multiple bonds or the non-bonded electrons
on atoms other than carbon or hydrogen. Such atoms (for instance O, N, S, P, Cl, Br,
I etc.) when present in the organic molecules are called heteroatoms. The presence
of the functional group is also the basis for systematization of organic compounds
into specific classes.
The most common functional groups together with their nomenclature are listed
in following tables. The additional functional groups as well as the details of the
nomenclature of specific classes of compounds will be discussed later in this book.
H. Vančik, Basic Organic Chemistry for the Life Sciences,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-07605-8_2, © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
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Functional Groups
Amongst the functional groups which have double and triple bonds we shall
mention those in the following table. All the compounds belong to different types of
hydrocarbons:
The main functional groups and the corresponding organic compounds containing oxygen are: alcohols, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and esters as
listed in the following table:
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Functional Groups
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The most important organic compounds with nitrogen are the following:
Some organic compounds possess groups with both elements, oxygen and
nitrogen:
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Functional Groups
Let us also list the classes of compounds with the functional groups containing
sulfur and halogen:
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