Acetyl group

Acetyl group
Names
IUPAC name
Acetyl (preferred to ethanoyl)
Systematic IUPAC name
Methyloxidocarbon(•) (additive)
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
Abbreviations Ac
1697938
ChEBI
ChemSpider
786
  • InChI=1S/C2H3O/c1-2-3/h1H3 Y
    Key: TUCNEACPLKLKNU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
  • C[C]=O
Properties
C2H3O
Molar mass 43.045 g·mol−1
Thermochemistry
−15 to −9 kJ mol−1
Related compounds
Related compounds
Acetone
Carbon monoxide
Acetic acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

In organic chemistry, an acetyl group is a functional group denoted by the chemical formula −COCH3 and the structure −C(=O)−CH3. It is sometimes represented by the symbol Ac (not to be confused with the element actinium). In IUPAC nomenclature, an acetyl group is called an ethanoyl group.

An acetyl group contains a methyl group (−CH3) that is single-bonded to a carbonyl (C=O), making it an acyl group. The carbonyl center of an acyl radical has one non-bonded electron with which it forms a chemical bond to the remainder (denoted with the letter R) of the molecule.

The acetyl moiety is a component of many organic compounds, including acetic acid, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, acetyl-CoA, acetylcysteine, acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol), and acetylsalicylic acid (also known as aspirin).