Alkoholiden

Alkoholiden is a term used in organic chemistry to describe compounds that contain both an alcohol functional group and an aldehyde functional group. These functional groups have distinct chemical properties. An alcohol group consists of a hydroxyl group (-OH) bonded to a saturated carbon atom, while an aldehyde group features a carbonyl group (C=O) where the carbon atom is bonded to at least one hydrogen atom. Therefore, an alkoholiden molecule will possess both of these features.

The presence of both functional groups within the same molecule can lead to interesting reactivity. For instance, the alcohol group can be oxidized to an aldehyde or carboxylic acid, while the aldehyde group can be reduced to a primary alcohol. Intramolecular reactions are also possible, where the alcohol and aldehyde groups react with each other. The specific properties and reactions of an alkoholiden depend on the relative positions of the alcohol and aldehyde groups, as well as the overall structure of the molecule. Examples include simple molecules like hydroxyacetaldehyde. The synthesis of alkoholiden often involves controlled oxidation or reduction reactions, or specific coupling chemistries.