Tetrahydrofurfuryl

Tetrahydrofurfuryl is a chemical term used to denote a substituent derived from tetrahydrofuran, a five-membered ring ether. In nomenclature, a tetrahydrofurfuryl group indicates that the tetrahydrofuran ring forms part of a larger molecule and is attached through one of the ring carbons, commonly at the 2-position, resulting in a 2-tetrahydrofurfuryl substituent. The substituent is often abbreviated as THFyl or THF-yl in chemical names and formulas, and it appears in a range of ethers, esters, and other derivatives that retain the THF ring.

The tetrahydrofurfuryl group is a stable, relatively hydrophobic fragment that can impart flexibility to a molecule and influence properties such as solubility and sterics. It is not a single standalone compound, but rather a descriptor for a class of compounds containing the tetrahydrofuran ring connected to another moiety.

Context and related compounds include tetrahydrofuran itself (the parent ring) and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (the corresponding alcohol derived from THF). THF and its derivatives are encountered across organic synthesis, medicinal chemistry, and materials science, where the THF motif serves as a versatile structural fragment.

Safety and handling follow those of THF and related ethers. THF is flammable and can form peroxides if not properly stabilized or stored.

See also: tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol, THFyl.