TRIMETHYLATE Meaning and
Definition
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Trimethylate is a chemical compound or substance that consists of three methyl (CH3) groups attached to a central atom or molecule. The process of trimethylating involves the addition or substitution of three methyl groups onto a specific atom or molecule, thereby modifying its structure and properties. This term is commonly used in the context of organic chemistry and biochemistry.
To trimethylate a compound, a reaction often takes place between the compound and a methylating agent, such as dimethyl sulfate (CH3)2SO4 or trimethyloxonium tetrafluoroborate (Me3OBF4). These agents donate or transfer methyl groups to the target molecule. Trimethylation can occur on various functional groups within a molecule, including nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or carbon atoms. The resulting trimethylated product may exhibit altered physical, chemical, or biological characteristics compared to the original compound.
Trimethylated compounds have broad applications in different fields, such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and materials science. For instance, trimethylated nitrogenous bases are commonly found in DNA and RNA methylation processes, playing essential roles in gene expression regulation and epigenetic modifications. In the field of materials science, trimethylated silicon compounds are utilized as precursors for the production of thin films, coatings, and other silicon-based materials.
Overall, trimethylate refers to the process and the resulting compound after introducing three methyl groups to a specific atom or molecule, impacting its properties and function.
Common Misspellings for TRIMETHYLATE
- rrimethylate
- frimethylate
- grimethylate
- yrimethylate
- 6rimethylate
- 5rimethylate
- teimethylate
- tdimethylate
- tfimethylate
- ttimethylate
- t5imethylate
- t4imethylate
- trumethylate
- trjmethylate
- trkmethylate
- tromethylate
- tr9methylate
- tr8methylate
- trinethylate
- trikethylate
Etymology of TRIMETHYLATE
The word "trimethylate" is derived from the combination of two terms: "tri-" and "methylate".
1. "Tri-" is a prefix taken from the Greek word "treis", meaning "three". It is commonly used in English to indicate the number three or a group of three. In the context of chemical compounds, "tri-" is used to describe a molecule that contains three identical functional groups or atoms.
2. "Methylate" is a verb derived from the noun "methyl". The term "methyl" comes from the combination of the Greek word "methy" (meaning "wine") and the chemical suffix "-yl", which is used to denote a hydrocarbon radical. "Methy" was originally used because the methyl group was discovered during the distillation of wood alcohol, which was used originally to make wine.
