VINYLENE Meaning and
Definition
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Vinylene is a term used in organic chemistry to refer to a divalent radical, which consists of two carbon atoms that are connected by a double bond. This radical has the general formula -C=C-. It is one of the simplest and most fundamental types of radicals with a carbon-carbon double bond. Vinylene is derived from the word "vinyl," which is used to describe compounds containing a carbon-carbon double bond.
Vinylene compounds can exist in various forms, such as substituted and unsubstituted vinylene, as well as cyclic and acyclic vinylene derivatives. They are widely employed in synthetic organic chemistry for their important role in the formation of various chemical compounds and materials.
Vinylene radicals are characterized by their high reactivity due to the presence of a double bond, making them susceptible to addition reactions with other molecules. They are often used as intermediates in the synthesis of more complex organic compounds, including polymers, drugs, and natural products.
Vinylene compounds also exhibit interesting electronic and optical properties, leading to their applications in organic electronics, optoelectronics, and photonics. They can be utilized as active components in organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic photovoltaics (OPVs), and organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), among other devices.
In summary, vinylene is a versatile divalent radical with a carbon-carbon double bond that plays a crucial role in organic synthesis and has significant applications in various fields of chemistry and materials science.
Etymology of VINYLENE
The word "vinylene" is derived from the combining form "vinyl-" which originates from the French word "vinyle". The French term "vinyle" was first used to refer to a resin made from ethylene, a simple hydrocarbon compound with two carbon atoms. The "vinyl-" prefix was then adopted in chemistry to describe compounds that contain the vinyl group (CH2=CH-). "Vinyl" itself is believed to be an abbreviation of "vinylique", another French term that means "from wine" or "related to wine". The origin of the term "vinylique" is uncertain, but it may be connected to the Latin word "vinum", meaning "wine". Hence, the word "vinylene" represents the vinyl group and its compounds.
