LOGO Spring 2014 Lecture 11: Organic compounds II : Functional groups and the molecules of life Course lecturer Jasmin Šutković 6th May 2014

Contents International University of Sarajevo 1. Arenes 2.Alcohols 3.Ethers 4.Aldehydes 5.Ketones 6.Carboxylic acid 7.Molecules of life Proteins Carbohydrates Lipids Nucleic acids

Arenes – cycle hydrocarbons  Most arenes with a single six-membered ring are volatile liquids  Benzene, C 6 H 6, is the simplest aromatic hydrocarbon, and it was the first one recognized. Arenes are Compounds containing both aliphatic and aromatic parts. Alkyl-benzenes Alkenyl-benzenes Alkynyl-benzenes Etc….

Volatility ? Volatility is a measure of a substance's vapor pressure and it's tendency to vaporize.

 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are lipophilic, meaning they mix more easily with oil than water  Example of Poly-aromatic hydrocarbons is Hexa-peri-hexabenzocoronene- one of the most widespread organic pollutants.  Its toxic to humans !

Aromatic VS. Aliphatic  In organic chemistry, compounds composed of carbon and hydrogen are divided into two classes:  aromatic compounds, which contain benzene or similarly aromatic rings of atoms- cyclic  aliphatic compounds which do not contain those rings.

Alkyl-benzenes, nomenclature: Special names

others named as “alkyl benzenes”:

Alcohols  Alcohols are characterized by the presence of an - OH group generally in a bent shape, like that of water.  Due to the presence of an -OH group, alcohols can have a hydrogen bond. This leads to higher boiling points compared to their parent alkanes.  Alcohols are polar in nature. This is attributed to the difference in electronegativity between the carbon and the oxygen atoms.  Are classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary, depending on whether the –OH group is bonded to a primary, secondary, or tertiary carbon

Ethers  Ethers are a class of organic compounds that contain an ether group — an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups — of general formula R–O–R'.  Good solvents for organic compounds  Unreactive because they lack the –OH unit

Aldehydes An ALDEHYDE is an organic compound containing a formyl group. This functional group, with the structure R-CHO, consists of a carbonyl center (a carbon double bonded to oxygen) bonded to hydrogen and an R group, which is any generic alkyl or side chain.  Contain the carbonyl functional group  Prepared by the oxidation of alcohols

Formalaldehyde  Simplest aldehyde  Also called by its systematic name methanal.  Used as :  Disinfectant  Fixative for human tissues  Formaldehyde-based materials are key to the manufacture of automobiles, and used to make components for the transmission, electrical system, engine block, door panels, axles and brake shoes.

Ketones A KETONE is an organic compound with the structure RC(=O)R', where the carbonyl group (C=O) is bonded to two other carbon atoms. Many ketones are known and many are of great importance in industry and in biology. Examples include many sugars (ketoses) and the industrial solvent acetone.

Acetone  Simplest ketone  It is what's found in nail polish remover and paint removers  Urea – another example of ketone

Ketoses  Have at least one KETONE group.

Carboxylic Acids  Compounds that contain the carboxyl functional group are weakly acidic because of delocalization of the  electrons, which causes them to lose a proton and form the carboxylate anion  Carboxylic acids are ACIDS because they are proton (H+) donors.

Carboxylic acids…. They are the most common type of organic acid. Among the simplest examples are formic acid H-COOH, which occurs in ants.

Another example COOH compounds …  acetic acid CH3-COOH, which gives vinegar its sour taste.  Carboxylic acids are used in the production of polymers, pharmaceuticals, solvents, and food additives.

Carboxylic Acid Derivatives Esters Esters are chemical compounds consisting of a carbonyl adjacent to an ether linkage Esters are usually derived from an inorganic acid or organic acid in which at least one -OH (hydroxyl) group is replaced by an -O-alkyl (alkoxy) group, and most commonly from carboxylic acids and alcohols. Esters are responsible for the aroma of many fruits, including apples, durians, pears, bananas, pineapples, and strawberries. Several billion kilograms of polyesters are produced industrially annually.

The Molecules of Life All the functional groups described are found in the organic molecules that constitute and maintain every living organism on The most abundant substances found in living systems belong to four major classes: 1. Proteins 2. Carbohydrates 3. Lipids 4. Nucleic acids

Proteins are biologically active polymers formed from amino acids linked together by amide bonds; in addition to an amine group and a carboxylic acid group, each amino acid contains a characteristic R group  The nature of the R group determines the particular chemical properties of each amino acid !!! Some proteins are enzymes that catalyze biological reactions Proteins

Carbohydrates are the most abundant of the organic compounds found in nature; they constitute a substantial portion of food that is consumed to provide energy needed to support life Carbohydrates are polyhydroxy aldehydes or polyhydroxy ketones – The simplest carbohydrates consist of unbranched chains of three to eight carbon atoms; one carbon is a carbonyl carbon and the others are bonded to hydroxyl groups Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are classified according to the number of single saccharide units they contain 1. The simplest are monosaccharides – Contain several chiral carbons and exist in several isomeric forms – An example is glucose 2. A disaccharide consists of two linked monosaccharide units and an example is sucrose 3. A trisaccharide is three linked monosaccharide units 4. Polysaccharides contain more than 10 monosaccharide units Carbohydrates

– Characterized by their insolubility in water – Form a family of compounds that includes fats, waxes, vitamins (A,D,E and K) and steroids – Fatty acids are the simplest lipids and have a long hydrocarbon chain that ends with a carboxylic acid functional group 1. Saturated fatty acids—the hydrocarbon chains contain only C–C single bonds that stack in a regular array 2. Unsaturated fatty acids—have a single double bond in the hydrocarbon chain (monounsaturated) or more than one double bond (polyunsaturated); double bonds give fatty acid chains a kinked structure, which prevents the molecules from packing tightly Lipids

 The main biological functions of lipids include storing energy, signaling, and acting as structural components of cell membranes

Nucleic acids are the basic structural components of DNA and RNA, the biochemical substances found in the nuclei of cells that transmit the information needed to direct cellular growth and reproduction !! Structures are derived from nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds called pyrimidines and purines and those are Guanine, Cytosine, Thymine and Adenine !  When a pyrimidine or purine is linked to a sugar by a bond called a glycosidic bond, a nucleoside is formed; if we add a phosphoric acid group to the sugar of nucleoside then we get a nucleotide ! Nucleic Acids

Nucleotides link to form a polymeric chain (many nucletides) that consists of alternating sugar and phosphate groups and so create the backbone of Deoxyribonucleic acid- DNA and Ribonucleic acid - RNA The function of DNA is to preserve genetic information, and RNA translates the genetic information in DNA and carries that information to cellular sites where proteins are synthesized ! Nucleic Acids

DNA and RNA

Readings  Chapter 24 (second part)  Book pages  One more lecture to go …