Dicarbonyl


A dicarbonyl is a molecule containing two carbonyl groups. Although this term could refer to any organic compound containing two carbonyl groups, it is used more specifically to describe molecules in which both carbonyls are in close enough proximity that their reactivity is changed, such as 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-dicarbonyls. Their properties often differ from those of monocarbonyls, and so they are usually considered functional groups of their own. These compounds can have symmetrical or unsymmetrical substituents on each carbonyl, and may also be functionally symmetrical or unsymmetrical.

1,2-Dicarbonyls

1,2-Dialdehyde

The only 1,2-dialdehyde is glyoxal, 2. Like many alkyldialdehydes, glyoxal is encountered almost exclusively as its hydrate and oligomers thereof. These derivatives often behave like the aldehyde. Glyoxal condenses readily with amines. Via such reactions, it is a precursor to many heterocycles, e.g. imidazoles., the simplest diketone

1,2-Diketones

The principal diketone is diacetyl, also known as 2,3-butanedione, CH3CCCH3. 1,2-Diketones are often generated by oxidation of the diols:
2,3-Butanedione, 2,3-pentanedione, and 2,3-hexanedione are found in small amounts in various foods. They are used as aroma components in alcohol-free beverages and in baked goods. Benzil, 2, is the corresponding diphenyl derivative.
A distinctive feature of 1,2-diketones is the long C-C bond linking the carbonyl groups. This bond distance is about 1.54 Å, compared to 1.45 Å for the corresponding bond in 1,3-butadiene. The effect is attributed to repulsion between the partial positive charges of the carbonyl carbon atoms.
1,2-Diketones condense with many bifunctional nucleophiles, such as urea and thiourea to give heterocycles. Condensation with aromatic amines gives diketimine.
In the cases of 1,2-cyclohexanedione and 1,2-cyclopentanedione, the enol is about 1-3 kcal/mol more stable than the diketo form.

1,2-Diesters and diacids

and its esters define this family of compounds. The diacid is produced industrially by oxidation waste sugars. It occurs naturally, notably in members of the plant species Oxalis. Condensation of the diesters with diamines gives cyclic diamides.

1,2-Keto- and formylcarboxylic acids

is the parent 2-ketoacid. Its conjugate base, pyruvate, is a component of the citric acid cycle and product of glucose metabolism. The corresponding aldehyde-acid is glyoxalic acid.

1,3-Dicarbonyls

1,3-Dialdehydes

The parent 1,3-dialdehyde is malondialdehyde. Like most dialdehydes, it is rarely encountered as such. Instead it is handled almost exclusively as its hydrate, methyl acetal, and oligomers thereof. These derivatives often behave like the parent. Many 2-substituted derivatives are known. They are often prepared by alkylation of the enolate of malondialdehyde.

1,3-Diketones

An important member is acetylacetone, CH3CCH2CCH3. Dimedone is a cyclic 1,3-diketone. Acetylacetone is prepared industrially by the thermal rearrangement of isopropenylacetate. Another cyclic 1,3-diketone is 2,2,4,4-tetramethylcyclobutanedione, which is a precursor to a useful diol.
1,3-Diketones that can tautomerize to an enol that is conjugated to the other carbonyl usually exist predominantly in the enol form, and especially when the product can be further stabilized by a six-membered ring containing a hydrogen bond. For example, the percent enol in acetylacetone, trifluoroacetyacetone, and hexafluoroacetylacetone are 85, 97, and 100%, respectively.
Like other diketones, 1,3-diketones are versatile precursors to heterocycles. Hydrazine, for example, condenses to give pyrazoles.
The conjugate base derived from 1,3-ketones can serve as ligand s to form metal acetylacetonate coordination complexes. In the DeMayo reaction 1,3-diketones react with alkenes in a photochemical pericyclic reaction to form 1,5-diketones.
Classically, 1,3-diketones are prepared by the Claisen condensation of a ketone with an ester.

1,3-Diesters and diacids

and its esters are the parent members of this class of dicarbonyls. Also common are the 2-substituted derivatives with the formula RCH2, which arise by C-alkylation of the conjugate base NaCH2.

1,4-Dicarbonyls

1,4-Dialdehydes

2 is the simplest and parent 1,4-dialdehyde. It hydrates readily to give 2,5-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran. The aromatic analogue is phthalaldehyde.

1,4-Diketones

Diketones with two methylene groups separating the carbonyl groups, also called γ-diketones, typically coexist with their enol tautomers. The preeminent member is acetonylacetone. 1,4-Diketones are useful precursors to heterocycles via the Paal–Knorr synthesis, which gives pyrroles:
This reactivity is the basis of the neurotoxicity of γ-diketones. 1,4-Diketones are also precursor to furans and thiophenes. The condensation of 1,4-diketones with hydrazines afford dihydropyridazines, which can be converted to pyridazines.

1,4-Diesters and diacids

and its esters are the parent members of this family of 1,4-dicarbonyls. Succinic acid is notable as a component in the citric acid cycle. It forms a cyclic acid anhydride, succinic anhydride.

1,5-Dicarbonyls

1,5-Dialdehydes

32 is the simplest and parent 1,5-dialdehyde. It hydrates readily. The aromatic analogue is isophthalaldehyde.

1,5-Diketones

These diketones have three methylene groups separating the carbonyl groups.

1,5-Diesters and diacids

32 is the parent 1,5-diacid.

Hydration and cyclization

, glutaraldehyde, and adipaldehyde form hydrates, which cyclize. Similar reactions apply to many dicarbonyls.

Safety

A number of dicarbonyl compounds are bioactive. Diacetyl is known to cause the lung disease bronchiolitis obliterans in those individuals exposed to it in an occupational setting. Dialdehydes, e.g. glutaraldehyde and malonaldehyde, are fixatives or sterilizers.