Language
Country/Area
No result found
From Acetic Acid to Acetyl: What Scientific Stories Are Hidden Behind the History of This Term?
In organic chemistry, acetyl group is an important functional group with the chemical formula −COCH3 and the structure −C(=O)−CH3. The history of this term began in 1839, when the German chemist Justus von Liebig first proposed this term. Although his understanding was a misunderstanding, the name has been passed down to this day and has become a common term in chemistry. One of the basic concepts.
"Acetyl is a functional group composed of a methyl group (-CH3) and a carbonyl group (C=O), and is a type of acyl group."
The structure of the acetyl group, a methyl group attached to a carbonyl group, gives it a lot of biological and chemical importance. For example, acetyl is a component of many organic compounds, including the well-known acetic acid, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, acetyl-CoA, acetylcysteine, (acetylcysteine) and aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid, also known as aspirin), etc.
Acetylation process
The process of introducing an acetyl group into a molecule is called acetylation. For example, the reaction of glycine conversion to N-acetylglycine is as follows:
H2NCH2CO2H + (CH3CO)2O → CH3C(O)NHCH2CO2H + CH3CO2H
During this process, the addition of an acetyl group not only changes the properties of the molecule, but also affects its function in biological systems.
Acetylation in Biology
In organisms, the enzymes that perform acetylation are called acetyltransferases. During biosynthesis, acetyl groups are often transferred from acetyl-CoA to other organic molecules. Acetyl-CoA is produced during the second phase of cellular respiration when pyruvate is acted upon by pyruvate decarboxylase.
"Acetylation plays a key role in protein modification, which can regulate gene expression."
For example, acetylation of histones can expand the local chromatin structure, making transcription feasible and allowing RNA polymerase to access DNA. However, the removal of the acetyl group condenses the local chromatin structure, preventing transcription from occurring.
Acetylation in synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry
In synthetic chemistry, chemists use different methods to perform acetylation, the most common of which are acetic anhydride or acetyl chloride, often in combination with tertiary or aromatic amine bases. to react. In medicinal chemistry, acetylated organic molecules exhibit an enhanced ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, which allows drugs to enter the brain more quickly and enhance their effects.
“The acetylation process helps the distribution and efficacy of drugs in the body, which is an important consideration in modern drug design.”
For example, the acetyl group in aspirin significantly enhances the effectiveness of salicylic acid, a natural anti-inflammatory agent. Likewise, acetylation converts the natural painkiller morphine into the more potent heroin (diacetylmorphine). In addition, recent evidence suggests that acetyl-L-carnitine may be more effective than L-carnitine for certain applications.
Etymology
When it comes to the word "acetyl", its origin can be traced back to the Latin word acētum, which means "vinegar". In chemistry, the name was first introduced in 1839 to describe the acetate ion, which Liebig believed to be real at the time. Although later research proved it to be incorrect, the name persisted. Since then, the term "acetyl" has become one of the cornerstones of organic chemistry.
Conclusion
The history and application of acetyl not only reveals the development and evolution of chemistry, but also reflects the continuous advancement of scientific exploration. As our understanding of this small functional group deepens, acetyl will continue to play an indispensable role in many fields such as biology and medicinal chemistry. So, what will science do next to use acetyl to solve problems that have yet to be solved?
