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Updated: May 31, 2026

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Modification and Functionalization of the Guanidine Group by Tailor-made Precursors
Published on: April 27, 2017
5-(Hy-droxy-meth-yl)furan-2-carb-oxy-lic acid
1Laboratory of Microbial Pharmaceutical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
In the title compound, C(6)H(6)O(4), the furan ring is nearly coplanar with the carboxyl group, the maximum atomic deviation being 0.0248 (9) Å. The crystal packing is stabilized by classical O-H⋯O and weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonding.
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Organic Compounds
All living things are formed mostly of carbon compounds called organic compounds. The category of organic compounds includes both natural and synthetic compounds that contain carbon. Although a single, precise definition has yet to be identified by the chemistry community, most agree that a defining trait of organic molecules is the presence of carbon as the principal element, bonded to hydrogen and other carbon atoms. However, some carbon-containing compounds such as carbonates, cyanides, and...
Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: Overview
Carboxylic acid derivatives are formed by replacing the hydroxyl group of carboxylic acids with a different functional group. The most common carboxylic acid derivatives are:
Acid Halides to Carboxylic Acids: Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis of acid halides is a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction in which acid halides react with water to give carboxylic acids. The reaction occurs readily and does not require acid or a base catalyst.
As shown below, the mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack by water at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen π bond along with the departure of a halide ion. A final proton transfer step yields carboxylic acid...
As shown below, the mechanism involves a nucleophilic attack by water at the carbonyl carbon to form a tetrahedral intermediate. This is followed by the reformation of the carbon–oxygen π bond along with the departure of a halide ion. A final proton transfer step yields carboxylic acid...
Multiple Halogenation of Methyl Ketones: Haloform Reaction
A method involving the transformation of methyl ketones to carboxylic acids using excess base and halogen is called the haloform reaction. It begins with the deprotonation of α hydrogen to form an enolate ion which reacts with the electrophilic halogen to give an α-halo ketone. The step continues until all the α protons are substituted to form a trihalomethyl ketone. The resulting molecule is unstable, and in the presence of a hydroxide base, it readily undergoes nucleophilic acyl substitution.
IUPAC Nomenclature of Carboxylic Acids
IUPAC names of carboxylic acids are systematically derived following a few rules discussed below.
For acyclic saturated monocarboxylic acids, the longest hydrocarbon chain containing the –COOH carbon is identified as the parent chain. Then, the last -e of the parent hydrocarbon name is replaced with a suffix -oic acid.
For acyclic saturated monocarboxylic acids, the longest hydrocarbon chain containing the –COOH carbon is identified as the parent chain. Then, the last -e of the parent hydrocarbon name is replaced with a suffix -oic acid.
Structures of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
Structure of Carboxylic Acid Derivatives
Carboxylic acid derivatives contain an acyl group attached to a heteroatom such as chlorine, oxygen, or nitrogen. The carbonyl carbon and oxygen are both sp2-hybridized with an unhybridized p orbital.
The three sp2 orbitals of the carbonyl carbon form three σ bonds, one each with the carbonyl oxygen, the α carbon, and the heteroatom, whereas the other two sp2 orbitals of the carbonyl oxygen are occupied by the lone pairs. Further, the unhybridized p...
Carboxylic acid derivatives contain an acyl group attached to a heteroatom such as chlorine, oxygen, or nitrogen. The carbonyl carbon and oxygen are both sp2-hybridized with an unhybridized p orbital.
The three sp2 orbitals of the carbonyl carbon form three σ bonds, one each with the carbonyl oxygen, the α carbon, and the heteroatom, whereas the other two sp2 orbitals of the carbonyl oxygen are occupied by the lone pairs. Further, the unhybridized p...

