Acyl group

Definition

An acyl group is a functional group derived from a carboxylic acid by removal of a hydroxyl group (OH), represented as RCO-, where R can be any alkyl or aryl group. It plays a crucial role in the acylation reactions, including the synthesis of ketones and aldehydes through electrophilic aromatic substitution.

Related terms

Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: A chemical reaction where an electrophile replaces a hydrogen atom in an aromatic ring, forming new aromatic compounds.

Friedel–Crafts Reaction: A type of electrophilic aromatic substitution that introduces an alkyl or acyl group into an aromatic ring, facilitated by a Lewis acid catalyst.

Carboxylic Acid: Organic compounds containing a carboxyl group (-COOH), which upon losing its hydroxyl group (OH), forms an acyl group