biszulfitformákat

Biszulfitformákat, also known as bisulfite adducts or bisulfite derivatives, are chemical compounds formed when bisulfite ions (HSO₃⁻) react with certain functional groups in organic molecules. The most common reaction involves the addition of bisulfite to carbonyl groups, specifically aldehydes and ketones, forming α-hydroxyalkylsulfonates. This reaction is reversible and is often used in organic chemistry for purification and analysis.

The formation of bisulfite adducts is a nucleophilic addition reaction. The bisulfite ion acts as a nucleophile, attacking the electrophilic carbon atom of the carbonyl group. The resulting adduct is typically a water-soluble solid, which can be easily separated from impurities. The aldehyde or ketone can then be regenerated by treating the bisulfite adduct with an acid or a base, which reverses the addition reaction.

This property makes bisulfite adducts useful for separating aldehydes and ketones from mixtures containing other functional groups. For example, in the isolation of natural products, bisulfite can be used to selectively extract aldehydes and ketones. Similarly, bisulfite can be employed in the analysis of carbohydrates, as many sugars contain aldehyde or hemiacetal functionalities that can form bisulfite adducts.

Beyond carbonyl compounds, bisulfite can also react with other functional groups, although less commonly. For instance, it can add to activated carbon-carbon double bonds in a Michael addition-like fashion. The chemistry of bisulfite adducts is an important aspect of organic synthesis and analytical chemistry.