nonvicinal

The term "nonvicinal" refers to a concept primarily used in organic chemistry and related fields to describe the spatial relationship between substituents or functional groups on a molecule. Vicinal, derived from the Latin word *vicinus* meaning "neighboring," denotes groups that are adjacent to each other, typically on adjacent carbon atoms in a carbon chain. By contrast, nonvicinal groups are not adjacent; they are separated by one or more carbon atoms or other structural elements.

In organic chemistry, the distinction between vicinal and nonvicinal substituents is important in reactions such as halogenation, oxidation, or substitution. For example, vicinal diols (two hydroxyl groups on adjacent carbons) are common intermediates in oxidation reactions, whereas nonvicinal diols lack this adjacency. The spatial arrangement can influence reactivity, stereochemistry, and the stability of intermediates formed during chemical transformations.

The term is also applied in other contexts, such as polymer chemistry or materials science, where it may describe the positioning of functional groups in a polymer backbone or within a crystalline lattice. In these cases, nonvicinal groups may exhibit different physical or chemical properties compared to their vicinal counterparts due to reduced steric hindrance or altered electronic effects.

Understanding the difference between vicinal and nonvicinal relationships is essential for predicting reaction mechanisms, designing synthetic pathways, and interpreting structural data in chemical research. The terminology helps chemists communicate precise spatial arrangements, which are critical for understanding molecular behavior.