methylene

A bivalent hydrocarbon radical, CH₂^-, a component of unsaturated hydrocarbons.

[French méthylène : Greek methu, wine + Greek hūlē, wood, substance.]

The highly reactive carbene, :CH₂. The divalent CH₂ group in a compound is the methylene group.

A bivalent hydrocarbon radical, CH₂, that is a component of unsaturated hydrocarbons and is derived from methane by the removal of two hydrogen atoms.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: the bivalent radical CH2 derived from methane
  Synonyms: methylene group, methylene radical

Dichloromethane

Methylenecyclopropene

Carbene

Methylene is a chemical species in which a carbon atom is bonded to two hydrogen atoms. Three different possibilities present themselves:

• the −CH₂− group, e.g. dichloromethane (also known as methylene chloride)
• the =CH₂ group, e.g. methylenecyclopropene,
• and the :CH₂ molecule, a carbene known as methylene. A carbene is a highly reactive organic molecule having a divalent carbon atom with six valence electrons.

Methylene groups in a chain or ring contribute to its size and lipophilicity.

See also

• Methyl
• Methylidyne

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