nonone

Nonone is an informal term used in organic chemistry to refer to any ketone derived from nonane, the nine-carbon alkane backbone. It is not an official IUPAC name. The standard nomenclature for individual compounds uses functional naming such as nonan-2-one, nonan-3-one, etc., specifying the position of the carbonyl group on the chain.

Because the carbonyl group can occupy different positions on the nonane skeleton, there are multiple positional isomers, commonly designated as nonan-2-one through nonan-8-one. In addition, branched nonanones arise from substituents attached to the nine-carbon framework, increasing structural variety. These isomers can differ in physical properties such as boiling point and polarity.

Nonanones occur in synthetic chemistry and may be present in complex mixtures from natural or industrial processes. They are typically prepared or studied as part of research into ketone reactivity, fragrance precursors, or as intermediates in organic synthesis.

Because nonane itself serves as a parent hydrocarbon, nonanones are contrasted with nonane (an alkane) and with longer-chain nonanones in chemical literature. The term nonone is used chiefly in informal contexts; formal references use nonan-2-one, nonan-3-one, and related names.