Acylrelated

Acylrelated is not a formally defined technical term, but in chemical literature it is used informally to describe topics, compounds, or reactions that involve acyl groups. An acyl group is the functional fragment R-CO–, derived from a carboxylic acid by removal of the hydroxyl group. Acyl-related chemistry therefore centers on acyl derivatives and processes that transfer or modify the acyl moiety.

Key concepts include the major acyl derivatives: acyl chlorides (R-COCl), acid anhydrides ((R-CO)2O), esters (R-COOR'), and amides (R-CONR'2). These species differ in reactivity and utility, but all feature the carbonyl-linked acyl fragment. Acyl radicals (R-CO•) also appear in certain decarboxylative or photochemical processes and serve as reactive intermediates in polymerization and coupling reactions.

Common reactions associated with acyl-related chemistry include acylation, where an acyl group is introduced into a substrate to form esters or amides; transesterification; and hydrolysis or aminolysis of acyl derivatives. Friedel–Crafts acylation is a notable example in which an aryl ring is acylated using an acyl chloride or an anhydride in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. In biology, acylation reactions transfer acyl groups to biomolecules, such as protein acetylation mediated by acetyl-CoA, which can regulate activity and interactions.

Nomenclature often uses explicit acyl terms, such as acetyl (CH3CO–) or benzoyl (PhCO–), to denote specific acyl groups. The term acylrelated is broader than “acylated” or “acylation” and is context-dependent, typically signaling relevance to acyl chemistry, derivatives, or transfer reactions.