In
organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic materials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain carbon atoms.Clayden, ...
, the acetoxy group (abbr. AcO or OAc;
IUPAC name
In chemical nomenclature, a preferred IUPAC name (PIN) is a unique name, assigned to a chemical substance and preferred among the possible names generated by IUPAC nomenclature. The "preferred IUPAC nomenclature" provides a set of rules for choo ...
: acetyloxy
), is a
functional group
In organic chemistry, a functional group is a substituent or moiety in a molecule that causes the molecule's characteristic chemical reactions. The same functional group will undergo the same or similar chemical reactions regardless of the re ...
with the
formula and the
structure . As the ''-oxy'' suffix implies, it differs from the
acetyl group () by the presence of an additional
oxygen
Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as ...
atom. The name acetoxy is the short form of ''acetyl-oxy''.
Functionality
An acetoxy group may be used as a protection for an alcohol functionality in a synthetic route although the protecting group itself is called an
acetyl group.
Alcohol protection
There are several options of introducing an acetoxy functionality in a molecule from an alcohol (in effect protecting the alcohol by
acetylation):
* Acetyl halide, such as
acetyl chloride
Acetyl chloride (CH3COCl) is an acyl chloride derived from acetic acid. It belongs to the class of organic compounds called acid halides. It is a colorless, corrosive, volatile liquid. Its formula is commonly abbreviated to AcCl.
Synthesis
On a ...
in the presence of a base like
triethylamine
Triethylamine is the chemical compound with the formula N(CH2CH3)3, commonly abbreviated Et3N. It is also abbreviated TEA, yet this abbreviation must be used carefully to avoid confusion with triethanolamine or tetraethylammonium, for which TEA ...
*
Activated ester In organic chemistry, an active ester is an ester functional group that is highly susceptible toward nucleophilic attack. Activation can be imparted by modifications of the acyl or the alkoxy components of a normal ester, say ethyl acetate. Typical ...
form of acetic acid, such as a
N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, although this is not advisable due to higher costs and difficulties.
*
Acetic anhydride in the presence of base with a catalyst such as
pyridine
Pyridine is a basic heterocyclic organic compound with the chemical formula . It is structurally related to benzene, with one methine group replaced by a nitrogen atom. It is a highly flammable, weakly alkaline, water-miscible liquid with a ...
with a bit of
DMAP added.
An alcohol is not a particularly strong
nucleophile and, when present, more powerful nucleophiles like
amine
In chemistry, amines (, ) are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are formally derivatives of ammonia (), wherein one or more hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element wi ...
s will react with the above-mentioned reagents in preference to the alcohol.
Alcohol deprotection
For deprotection (regeneration of the alcohol)
*
Aqueous
An aqueous solution is a solution in which the solvent is water. It is mostly shown in chemical equations by appending (aq) to the relevant chemical formula. For example, a solution of table salt, or sodium chloride (NaCl), in water would be re ...
base (pH >9)
* Aqueous acid (pH <2), may have to be heated
*
Anhydrous base such as sodium
methoxide
In organic chemistry, methoxides are organic salts with a anion. They are the simplest alkoxides. Sodium methoxide and potassium methoxide have widespread use, though other metal-cation variants such as lithium methoxide, rubidium methoxide, ...
in methanol. Very useful when a methyl
ester
In chemistry, an ester is a compound derived from an oxoacid (organic or inorganic) in which at least one hydroxyl group () is replaced by an alkoxy group (), as in the substitution reaction of a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. Glycerides a ...
of a carboxylic acid is also present in the molecule, as it will not hydrolyze it like an aqueous base would. (Same also holds with an ethoxide in ethanol with ethyl esters)
See also
*
Acetyl group
*
Acetylation
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Acetoxy Group
Functional groups