ketonecontaining

Ketone-containing compounds are organic molecules that include one or more ketone functional groups, defined by a carbonyl group (C=O) bonded to two carbon substituents, giving the general formula R-CO-R'. The carbonyl carbon is sp2-hybridized and the group is polar, which influences boiling points and solubility relative to hydrocarbons of similar size.

Reactivity and chemistry: The ketone carbonyl is susceptible to nucleophilic attack. Typical reactions include nucleophilic addition (for example, Grignard reagents adding to form tertiary alcohols), cyanohydrin formation, and enolate chemistry that enables aldol condensations and related carbon–carbon bond-forming processes. Ketones can be reduced to secondary alcohols and, under strong conditions, oxidized in ways that affect adjacent carbon frameworks. The chemistry of ketones under acidic or basic conditions underpins a wide range of synthetic methods in organic chemistry.

Occurrences and uses: Ketones appear widely in nature and industry. Simple ketones such as acetone (propanone) are common solvents; methyl ethyl ketone (2-butanone) is used in coatings, cleaning agents, and printing inks. Aromatic ketones like benzophenone serve as photoinitiators and intermediates in polymer chemistry. Beta-dicarbonyl ketones (for example, acetylacetone) act as ligands in coordination chemistry. In biology, ketone bodies such as acetoacetate and beta-hydroxybutyrate function as energy carriers during fasting.

Nomenclature and identification: IUPAC naming uses the -one suffix with the carbonyl position indicated on the parent chain (e.g., pentan-2-one). Infrared spectroscopy typically shows a strong C=O stretch near 1650–1750 cm-1, while 13C NMR places the carbonyl carbon around 190–210 ppm. Ketones are generally flammable and may pose irritant or storage hazards; some can form peroxides upon prolonged storage.