The term "allylic alcohol" can be spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /əˈlɪlɪk ˈælkəhɒl/. In this phonetic transcription, each symbol represents a sound in the word. The first symbol, /ə/, represents the schwa sound, which is an unstressed vowel sound. The next two symbols, /ˈlɪl/, represent the "lil" sound, which is the first part of the word "lily". The final symbols, /ɪk ˈælkəhɒl/, represent the remaining sounds in the word "allylic alcohol". Overall, the IPA phonetic transcription helps to clarify the spelling and pronunciation of this scientific term.
Allylic alcohol is an organic compound that possesses a hydroxyl functional group (-OH) attached to a carbon atom adjacent to a carbon-carbon double bond, known as an allylic carbon. This carbon atom is directly bonded to one of the carbon atoms involved in the double bond. The presence of the hydroxyl group within the molecule imparts alcohol-like properties to the compound.
Allylic alcohols are highly reactive due to the combined influence of the double bond and the hydroxyl group. This structural feature allows them to undergo various chemical reactions, such as oxidation, reduction, and substitution reactions. They can be oxidized to form aldehydes, ketones, or carboxylic acids, depending on the reaction conditions.
The allylic carbon in allylic alcohols also exhibits resonance stabilization, making the compound more stable than other alcohols. This resonance effect arises from the delocalization of electrons within the double bond system, leading to a more rigid and robust molecular structure.
Allylic alcohols find applications in organic synthesis, as they can serve as versatile building blocks for the construction of various organic compounds. They are often used as starting materials for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, natural products, and other complex organic molecules.
In summary, an allylic alcohol is an organic compound containing a hydroxyl group bonded to a carbon atom adjacent to a carbon-carbon double bond. They exhibit unique reactivity and stability due to the presence of the hydroxyl group and resonance stabilization respectively. Allylic alcohols have widespread applications in organic synthesis.
The term "allylic alcohol" is derived from two sources: "allylic" and "alcohol".
1. "Allylic": The word "allylic" refers to the allyl group, which is a functional group in organic chemistry composed of three carbon atoms arranged in a specific pattern. The term "allyl" is believed to originate from the Latin word "alum", meaning "garlic", due to the garlic-like odor associated with some allylic compounds.
2. "Alcohol": The term "alcohol" comes from the Arabic word "al-kuhl", which originally referred to a fine powder used in cosmetics. "Al-kuhl" was later adopted by Medieval Latin as "alcohol" or "alkohol", specifically referring to a distilled substance.