aldehydic

Aldehydic is an adjective relating to aldehydes or to compounds and functions that contain the aldehyde group. In organic chemistry, aldehydic describes reactions, properties, and nomenclature associated with aldehydes. The aldehyde functional group is a carbonyl group bonded to a hydrogen atom, typically written as -CHO. Aldehydes are generally more reactive than ketones, making them susceptible to nucleophilic addition and to oxidation.

Common chemical transformations of aldehydes include oxidation to carboxylic acids and reduction to primary alcohols. They also participate in nucleophilic additions (including Grignard and hydride additions) and carbon–carbon bond forming reactions such as aldol condensations. In basic media, non-enolizable aldehydes can undergo Cannizzaro disproportionation. Aldehydes can also form acetals or hydrates under suitable conditions.

Spectroscopically, aldehydes exhibit a characteristic carbonyl stretch in the infrared around 1720–1740 cm−1, and their hydrogen attached to the carbonyl carbon gives distinct signals in proton NMR, typically near 9–10 ppm.

Examples of aldehydes include formaldehyde (methanal), acetaldehyde (ethanal), and benzaldehyde. Aldehydic motifs occur widely in fragrances, flavorants, and natural products, such as vanillin, and they are important intermediates in organic synthesis.

In nomenclature, the term aldehydic is used to describe compounds that contain an aldehyde function or that show aldehyde-like reactivity, and it may appear in systematic names or discussions of aldehyde chemistry.