Terminalgrupp

Terminalgrupp, in Swedish, translates to "terminal group" and refers to a functional group located at the end of a molecular chain, oligomer, or polymer, or at the terminus of a molecule. The terminal group often dictates reactivity, solubility, and physical properties, and provides a site for covalent coupling to other molecules, ions, or surfaces.

In polymer chemistry, terminal groups determine how polymer chains can link or be functionalized. Reactive end groups such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, amine, or thiol groups enable further synthesis, cross-linking, or grafting, while inert end caps help control molecular weight and stability. End-group analysis is commonly performed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and mass spectrometry techniques like MALDI-TOF. Synthesis and modification strategies frequently aim to introduce, protect, or selectively react terminal groups to tailor material performance.

In biochemistry and peptide chemistry, terminal groups refer to the N-terminus and C-terminus of polypeptides. These terminals influence folding, proteolysis, and interactions with receptors or enzymes. During solid-phase peptide synthesis, protecting groups and deprotection steps are used to control terminal functionality, and terminal modifications such as acetylation or amidation are common to alter stability or activity.

In materials science and surface chemistry, terminal groups on polymers or oligomers are used to graft ligands onto substrates, modify compatibility with solvents, or enable specific binding through click chemistry.

In information technology contexts, the term is less standardized and may refer to end-user devices or endpoints in a network rather than a formal chemical concept.