pentanoyl

Pentanoyl is a functional group in organic chemistry. It is the acyl group derived from pentanoic acid, also known as valeric acid. The pentanoyl group has the chemical formula C5H9O. It is characterized by a carbonyl group (C=O) attached to a butyl chain (C4H9). The structure can be represented as CH3(CH2)3CO-.

When pentanoyl is attached to another atom or group, it forms various chemical compounds. For example, pentanoyl chloride is an acyl chloride where the pentanoyl group is bonded to a chlorine atom. Esters containing the pentanoyl group are called pentanoates or valerates, such as ethyl pentanoate, which has a fruity aroma. Amides formed with the pentanoyl group are also common, where the carbonyl carbon is bonded to a nitrogen atom.

The pentanoyl group is a common structural feature in many organic molecules, including some natural products and synthetic chemicals. Its presence influences the physical and chemical properties of the compound it is part of. Pentanoic acid itself is a carboxylic acid with five carbon atoms, and the pentanoyl group is essentially the acid minus the hydroxyl hydrogen.