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Structure and Nomenclature of Alcohols and Phenols

Structure and Nomenclature of Alcohols and Phenols

Overview
Alcohols are one of the most important functional groups in organic chemistry. The name of alcohol comes from the hydrocarbon from which it is derived. Alcohols are organic molecules containing the functional hydroxyl or –OH group directly bonded to carbon. Phenols have an OH group directly attached to a benzene ring. While alcohols are colorless, phenol is a white crystalline compound with a characteristic "hospital smell" odor.
As with other organic compounds, alcohols and phenols...

Acidity and Basicity of Alcohols and Phenols

Acidity and Basicity of Alcohols and Phenols

Like water, alcohols are weak acids and bases. This is attributed to the polarization of the O–H bond making the hydrogen partially positive. Moreover, the electron pairs on the oxygen atom of alcohol make it both basic and nucleophilic. Protonation of an alcohol converts hydroxide, a poor leaving group, into water—a good one. The two acid–base equilibria corresponding to ethanol are depicted below.

Physical Properties of Alcohols and Phenols

Physical Properties of Alcohols and Phenols

Alcohols are organic compounds in which a hydroxy group is attached to a saturated carbon. Phenols are a class of alcohols containing a hydroxy group attached to an aromatic ring. The physical properties of the alcohols and phenols are influenced by hydrogen bonding due to the oxygen–hydrogen dipole in the hydroxy functional group and dispersion forces between alkyl or aryl regions of alcohol and phenol molecules.
Alcohols possess a higher boiling point than aliphatic hydrocarbons of similar...

Structure and Nomenclature of Ethers

Structure and Nomenclature of Ethers

Structure and Bonding
Ethers are organic compounds with an ether functional group which is characterized by an oxygen atom connected to two — identical or different — alkyl, aryl, or vinyl groups. The C–O–C linkage in dimethyl ether — the simplest ether — has an approximately tetrahedral bond angle of 110.3 degrees. The oxygen atom is sp3- hybridized, with the C–O distance being about 140 pm.
Classification of Ethers
Based on their attached substituent groups, ethers can be classified into two...

Hydrolysis of Chlorobenzene to Phenol: Dow Process

Hydrolysis of Chlorobenzene to Phenol: Dow Process

Simple aryl halides do not react with nucleophiles under normal conditions. However, the reaction can proceed under drastic conditions involving high temperatures and high pressure to give the substituted products. For example, chlorobenzene is converted to phenol using aqueous sodium hydroxide at 350 °C under high pressure by the Dow process. The reaction follows an elimination-addition mechanism involving a benzyne intermediate. Here, the chloride ion is eliminated to generate the benzyne...

Protection of Alcohols

Protection of Alcohols

This lesson delves into the concept of protection and deprotection of a functional group fundamental to synthetic organic chemistry. These phenomena are explained in the context of aliphatic and aromatic alcohols.
Protection
It defines a protecting group as the masking agent to make the more reactive species inert to a given set of conditions. This concept is depicted via the illustration of liquid flow through different outlets in an assembly of pipes. The analogy helps to understand the role...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 1, 2026

A Two-Step Protocol for Umpolung Functionalization of Ketones Via Enolonium Species

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2-[2-(Hydroxy-meth-yl)phen-yl]-1-(1-naphth-yl)ethanol.

F Nawaz Khan, P Manivel, Venkatesha R Hathwar

Acta Crystallographica. Section E, Structure Reports Online

|May 18, 2011

Summary

Molecular structure C(19)H(18)O(2) is stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Molecules form zigzag chains via intermolecular interactions, revealing crystal packing details.

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Area of Science:

Crystallography
Molecular Chemistry

Background:

Understanding molecular conformation and intermolecular interactions is crucial in crystal engineering.
Hydrogen bonding plays a significant role in determining crystal structures and material properties.

Purpose of the Study:

To elucidate the molecular conformation of the title compound C(19)H(18)O(2).
To investigate the role of hydrogen bonding in stabilizing the molecular structure and directing crystal packing.

Main Methods:

X-ray diffraction analysis was employed to determine the crystal structure.
Analysis of hydrogen bonding interactions (intramolecular and intermolecular) was performed.

Main Results:

The molecular conformation is stabilized by a strong intramolecular O-H-O hydrogen bond.
Intermolecular O-H-O interactions link molecules into zigzag chains along the c axis, dictating the crystal packing.

Conclusions:

The title compound exhibits a specific molecular conformation governed by intramolecular hydrogen bonding.
The crystal structure is characterized by a unique zigzag chain motif formed by intermolecular hydrogen bonds, providing insights into crystal assembly.