![Aryloxygruppe structural formulae v](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Aryloxygruppe_structural_formulae_v.1.png)
In
chemistry
Chemistry is the science, scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the Chemical element, elements that make up matter to the chemical compound, compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions ...
, the alkoxy group is an
alkyl group
In organic chemistry, an alkyl group is an alkane missing one hydrogen.
The term ''alkyl'' is intentionally unspecific to include many possible substitutions.
An acyclic alkyl has the general formula of . A cycloalkyl is derived from a cycloalk ...
which is
singularly bonded to
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 wel ...
; thus . The range of alkoxy groups is vast, the simplest being
methoxy
In organic chemistry, a methoxy group is the functional group consisting of a methyl group bound to oxygen. This alkoxy group has the formula .
On a benzene ring, the Hammett equation classifies a methoxy substituent at the ''para'' position as ...
(). An ethoxy group () is found in the organic compound
ethyl phenyl ether
Ethyl phenyl ether (or phenetole) is an organic compound that belongs to a class of compounds called ethers. Ethyl phenyl ether has the same properties as some other ethers, such as volatility, explosive vapors, and the ability to form peroxides. ...
(, also known as ethoxybenzene).
Related to alkoxy groups are aryloxy groups, which have an
aryl
In organic chemistry, an aryl is any functional group or substituent derived from an aromatic ring, usually an aromatic hydrocarbon, such as phenyl and naphthyl. "Aryl" is used for the sake of abbreviation or generalization, and "Ar" is used as ...
group singularly bonded to oxygen such as the phenoxy group ().
An alkoxy or aryloxy group bonded to an alkyl or aryl () is an
ether
In organic chemistry, ethers are a class of compounds that contain an ether group—an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups. They have the general formula , where R and R′ represent the alkyl or aryl groups. Ethers can again be c ...
. If bonded to H it is an
alcohol
Alcohol most commonly refers to:
* Alcohol (chemistry), an organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom
* Alcohol (drug), an intoxicant found in alcoholic drinks
Alcohol may also refer to:
Chemicals
* Ethanol, one of sev ...
.
An
alkoxide
In chemistry, an alkoxide is the conjugate base of an alcohol and therefore consists of an organic group bonded to a negatively charged oxygen atom. They are written as , where R is the organic substituent. Alkoxides are strong bases and, whe ...
can refer to salts of alcohols, and they are ionic compounds containing an alkoxide ions ; it is a derivative of an alcohol where the
hydrogen
Hydrogen is the chemical element with the symbol H and atomic number 1. Hydrogen is the lightest element. At standard conditions hydrogen is a gas of diatomic molecules having the formula . It is colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, an ...
of the –OH group is replaced by a
metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
,
for example
sodium
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na (from Latin ''natrium'') and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal. Sodium is an alkali metal, being in group 1 of the periodic table. Its only stable iso ...
salt of
ethanol
Ethanol (abbr. EtOH; also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound. It is an Alcohol (chemistry), alcohol with the chemical formula . Its formula can be also written as or (an ethyl ...
() is
sodium ethoxide
Sodium ethoxide, also referred to as sodium ethylate, is the ionic, organic compound with the formula , or NaOEt (Et = ethane). It is a white solid, although impure samples appear yellow or brown. It dissolves in polar solvents such as ethanol. ...
, containing ethoxide anions and sodium cations .
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alkoxy Group
Functional groups