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Why is this molecule a hemiacetal?

I have a question with 3 molecules listed and I'm asked to name in which the hemiacetal structure is found. I have sucessfully found one. However the other two don't look like hemiacetals to me. But one of them is?


ch3och2ch2oh

and

ch3och2oh

Are these not both alcohols? Di-Propanol and Di-Ethanol?
Original post by byebyebadman
ch3och2ch2oh

and

ch3och2oh

Are these not both alcohols? Di-Propanol and Di-Ethanol?


No? :p: In each molecule you have an 'ether link' and a free OH.

A hemiacetal has a carbon attached to two oxygens - one as an 'ether' the other as a free OH :smile:
(edited 12 years ago)
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byebyebadman
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Original post by EierVonSatan
No? :p: In each molecule you have an 'ether link' and a free OH.

A hemiacetal has a carbon attached to two oxygens - one as an 'ether' the other as a free OH :smile:


Oh....I'm rather useless at converting shorthand to structures (especially in my head). So is the second one I wrote a hemiacetal then? And the first longer molecule is a..... 2- ethoxy ethanol?
Original post by byebyebadman
Oh....I'm rather useless at converting shorthand to structures (especially in my head). So is the second one I wrote a hemiacetal then? And the first longer molecule is a..... 2- ethoxy ethanol?


Yes, the bottom one is the hemiacetal :smile: The top one is called 2-methoxyethanol :yes:
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byebyebadman
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Original post by EierVonSatan
Yes, the bottom one is the hemiacetal :smile: The top one is called 2-methoxyethanol :yes:


Thanks for that. And oh yes, it was a methoxy not ethoxy.

Cheers again.

So is the clue to spotting ehters in shorthand form just seeing a R-OCH2-
Original post by byebyebadman
Thanks for that. And oh yes, it was a methoxy not ethoxy.

Cheers again.

So is the clue to spotting ehters in shorthand form just seeing a R-OCH2-


Yeah :yy:
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byebyebadman
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Also related question.....

Are acetals just diethers? Obviously with the ethers attatched to the same C?
Original post by byebyebadman
Also related question.....

Are acetals just diethers? Obviously with the ethers attatched to the same C?


You can think of it like that, yes :yep:

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