A hemiacetal or a hemiketal has the general formula R
1R
2C(OH)OR, where R
1 or R
2 is hydrogen or an organic substituent. They generally result from the addition of an
alcohol to an
aldehyde
In organic chemistry, an aldehyde () is an organic compound containing a functional group with the structure . The functional group itself (without the "R" side chain) can be referred to as an aldehyde but can also be classified as a formyl grou ...
or a
ketone, although the latter are sometimes called hemiketals. Most sugars are hemiacetals.
Nomenclature
According to the
IUPAC
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC ) is an international federation of National Adhering Organizations working for the advancement of the chemical sciences, especially by developing nomenclature and terminology. It is ...
definition, in R
1R
2C(OH)OR R
1 and R
2 may or may not be a hydrogen. In a hemiketal, neither R-group can be a hydrogen. Hemiketals are regarded as hemiacetals where none of the R-groups are H, and are therefore a subclass of the hemiacetals. The Greek prefix ''hèmi'' means half, refers to the fact that a single alcohol has been added to the
carbonyl group
In organic chemistry, a carbonyl group is a functional group composed of a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom: C=O. It is common to several classes of organic compounds, as part of many larger functional groups. A compound containi ...
, in contrast to
acetals or
ketals, which are formed when a second alkoxy group has been added to the structure.
Cyclic hemiacetals and hemiketals are sometimes called
lactols.
[IUPAC Gold Boo]
lactols
/ref> They often form readily, especially when they are 5- and 6-membered rings. In this case an intramolecular OH group reacts with the carbonyl group. Glucose
Glucose is a simple sugar with the molecular formula . Glucose is overall the most abundant monosaccharide, a subcategory of carbohydrates. Glucose is mainly made by plants and most algae during photosynthesis from water and carbon dioxide, u ...
and many other aldoses exist as cyclic hemiacetals whereas fructose and similar ketoses
A ketose is a monosaccharide containing one ketone group per molecule. The simplest ketose is dihydroxyacetone, which has only three carbon atoms. It is the only ketose with no optical activity. All monosaccharide ketoses are reducing sugars, be ...
exist as cyclic hemiketals.
Formation
Solutions of simple aldehydes in alcohols mainly consist of the hemiacetal. The equilibrium is easily reversed and dynamic. The equilibrium is sensitive to steric effects.
Hemiacetals in nature
Arguably, the most common hemiacetals are sugars, for example glucose
Glucose is a simple sugar with the molecular formula . Glucose is overall the most abundant monosaccharide, a subcategory of carbohydrates. Glucose is mainly made by plants and most algae during photosynthesis from water and carbon dioxide, u ...
. The favorability of the formation of a strain-free six-membered ring and the electrophilicity of an aldehyde combine to strongly favor the acetal form.
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Reactions
Hemiacetals and hemiketals may be thought of as intermediates in the reaction between alcohols and aldehydes or ketones, with the final product being an acetal or a ketal:
:R2C=O + R'OH ⇌ R2C(OH)(OR')
:R2C(OH)(OR') + R'OH ⇌ R2C(OR')2 + H2O
Usually, the second reaction is unfavorable. In the presence of a dehydrating agent, it proceeds.
References
Functional groups
Hemiacetals