Acetyl
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In organic chemistry, acetyl (IUPAC name ethanoyl) is a functional group, the acyl of acetic acid, with chemical formula -COCH3. It is sometimes abbreviated as Ac (not to be confused with the element actinium). A molecule containing an acetyl group has the chemical structure
(where R denotes the remainder of the molecule). The acetyl radical contains a methyl group single-bonded to a carbonyl. The carbon of the carbonyl has a lone electron available, with which it forms a chemical bond to the remainder R of the molecule.
The acetyl radical is a component of many organic compounds, including the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and the analgesics acetaminophen and acetylsalicylic acid (better known as aspirin). The introduction of an acetyl group into a molecule is called acetylation (or ethanoylation). In biological organisms, acetyl groups are commonly transferred bound to Coenzyme A (CoA), in the form of acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA is an important intermediate both in the biological synthesis and in the breakdown of many organic molecules.
Template:Orgchem-stubda:Acetyl fr:Groupe acétyle nl:Acetyl ja:アセチル基