Acylated

Acylated is a chemical term describing a molecule to which an acyl group has been covalently attached. An acyl group is a carbonyl-containing substituent of the form R–C(=O)–, where R can be an alkyl, aryl, or other substituent. Acylation is a common transformation in organic synthesis and biochemistry, enabling the conversion of amines into amides, alcohols into esters, or thiols into thioesters, among other outcomes. The process typically uses an activated carboxylic derivative, such as an acid chloride, anhydride, or activated ester, to transfer the acyl moiety to a nucleophile.

In organic synthesis, acylation is used in procedures ranging from protecting-group strategies—where alcohols or amines are temporarily masked as acetyl or benzoyl esters or amides—to the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and polymers. A classic example is Friedel–Crafts acylation, in which an acyl chloride reacts with an aromatic ring to form an aryl ketone. Acylated products include acetylated amines (acetanilide), acetylated alcohols (acetates), and various acylated derivatives used as prodrugs or intermediates.

In biochemistry, acylation is a post-translational or lipid modification that attaches fatty acyl groups to proteins or lipids, influencing localization, activity, and interactions. Common examples are N-acylation and S-acylation (palmitoylation or myristoylation) of proteins.

Overall, the term “acylated” denotes the presence of an acyl group in a molecule, reflecting a wide range of synthetic and biological contexts, from protective-group chemistry to enzyme-mediated modifications.