C6H5CHCHCH2

C6H5CHCHCH2 is a condensed structural representation that denotes the cinnamyl group, a phenylprop-2-en-1-yl substituent widely used in organic chemistry. The fragment comprises a benzene ring (C6H5) attached to a vinyl chain (CH=CH-CH2), giving an overall formula of C9H9 for the unsubstituted radical. The preferred IUPAC name for this substituent is phenylprop-2-en-1-yl; it is also commonly referred to as cinnamyl.

In chemical contexts, the cinnamyl group appears in a range of natural products and synthetic reagents. It is found in cinnamaldehyde derivatives and cinnamic acid-related compounds, and it serves as a versatile building block for forming cinnamyl esters, alcohols, and related motifs. Fragrance and flavor industries frequently employ cinnamyl-containing compounds due to their characteristic aroma profiles.

Reactivity and properties of this allyl-aryl system stem from the conjugated C=C bond adjacent to an aromatic ring. The double bond enables electrophilic addition and allylic oxidation or substitution at the CH2 position, making the cinnamyl fragment a common handle in synthetic transformations. Because the C=C bond can exhibit geometric isomerism, substituted derivatives may exist as E or Z isomers, with the E form often favored by steric considerations around the bulky phenyl group.

Naming and representation: while the condensed form emphasizes the benzene ring and three-carbon side chain, the full IUPAC designation for the substituent is phenylprop-2-en-1-yl. The cinnamyl group is typically encountered as part of larger molecules rather than as a standalone compound.