Dear all,

 

Unfortunately my chemistry isn't up to much. I was therefore wondering if anybody might please be able to help assist in identifying/naming the common group in the image attached? If possible I was also hoping to putatively name any simple 11-15 hydrocarbon compounds which exhibit this group at one of their terminal ends?

 

Any/all help is very much appreciated.

 

 

irisscientist

How did you find yourself wondering about this?

Anyway, if you add up the numbers of atoms present and come up with a molecular formula then Google might be able to help you.

Obviously there is a free atom connected to the Oxygen (in the diagram) as only one link is shown. I know that the structure (displayed) is the basis for ethanonic acid (acetic acid), and that the -COOH group forms a Carboxylic acid. I am however specifically interested in the group of compounds which have saturated Carbon chain elongations (C11-C21) connected to the 'free' Oxygen leaving the Methyl group and the Oxygens as displayed. Most of the carboxylic acids appear to elongate via the Methyl group, not via the 'free' Oxygen atom. Apologies, I obviously should have made my initial question much clearer. Any/all help that people might please be able to provide in relation to this query really would be very much appreciated.

Edited June 22, 201312 yr by irisscientist

Do you mean things like this?

http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/724188/STEARYL_ACETATE/

 

(other suppliers are also available- I just picked the first one where Google gave a picture.

Obviously there is a free atom connected to the Oxygen (in the diagram) as only one link is shown. I know that the structure (displayed) is the basis for ethanonic acid (acetic acid), and that the -COOH group forms a Carboxylic acid. I am however specifically interested in the group of compounds which have saturated Carbon chain elongations (C11-C21) connected to the 'free' Oxygen leaving the Methyl group and the Oxygens as displayed. Most of the carboxylic acids appear to elongate via the Methyl group, not via the 'free' Oxygen atom. Apologies, I obviously should have made my initial question much clearer. Any/all help that people might please be able to provide in relation to this query really would be very much appreciated.

That's because what you're talking about are esters (-COOR), not carboxylic acids (-COOH).

>That's because what you're talking about are esters

 

Thank you hypervalent_iodone. Exactly the kind of school grade chemistry I needed. Would any readers of the forum perhaps also be able to link/know of any websites which would display (and name) the C11-C21 versions of these esters?

 

Many thanks again,

 

 

irisscientist

hypervalent_iodine