C4H9NO3

C4H9NO3 is the molecular formula representing a class of organic compounds that contain four carbon atoms, one nitrogen atom, and three oxygen atoms. The calculated degree of unsaturation is one, which is consistent with a single carbonyl-containing functional group (as in a carboxylic acid, ester, or amide) or a ring within the molecule. The actual structures can vary widely, leading to many constitutional and stereoisomers that share the same formula. Possible structural motifs include carboxyl-containing derivatives such as amino acids or amino alcohols bearing additional oxygen substituents, as well as amide or ester derivatives that incorporate both a carbonyl group and heteroatoms. There is no single canonical compound for C4H9NO3; rather, the formula serves as a shorthand for a family of isomers, each with distinct properties, synthesis routes, and potential applications. In practice, compounds with this formula are studied in fields ranging from organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry to materials science, where small changes to the arrangement of atoms lead to different reactivity and biological activity. Databases and literature generally index specific compounds by their names or structural drawings rather than by the formula alone.