Glykolyyli

Glykolyyli, or glycolyl in English, is a chemical substituent derived from glycolic acid (2-hydroxyacetic acid). It represents a two-carbon hydroxycarbonyl fragment used in organic synthesis to introduce a hydroxyacetyl unit into molecules. In nomenclature, glycolyl refers to the glycolic-acid–derived moiety and can appear in various derivatives depending on how the rest of the molecule is attached to the glycolyl group.

The glycolyl unit is characterized by a proximal carbonyl group adjacent to a primary alcohol, giving it a dual functionality: a reactive carbonyl carbon that can form esters or amides, and a free hydroxyl group that can be further derivatized or protected. This enables the preparation of glycolyl esters and glycolyl amides, among other derivatives. A common reactive intermediate is glycolyl chloride, HO-CH2-COCl, used to introduce the glycolyl group into alcohols, amines, or other nucleophiles.

Glykolyyli-containing compounds occur in various contexts, including pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthesis, polymer chemistry, and bioconjugation, where the hydroxyacetyl motif can serve as a handle for further modification or as a protective or linking group. Protection strategies may exploit the hydroxyl functionality, while the carbonyl facilitates acyl-transfer reactions.

See also: glycolic acid; glycolyl chloride; hydroxyacetyl group.