propyl

In organic chemistry, propyl is a three-carbon alkyl substituent with chemical formula -C₃H₇. It is the substituent form of the alkane propane.

For example:

Propyl ethanoate, also called propyl acetate.

This is propyl ethanoate, an ester. The propyl group is attached to the molecule after the middle oxygen.

There are two isomeric forms of propyl:

• with the substituent attached to one of the end carbons (called prop-1-yl in the IUPAC nomenclature, or n-propyl (Pr-n) in the old naming system); and
• with the substituent attached to the middle carbon (called methylethyl in the IUPAC system, or isopropyl in the old system).

In addition there is a third, cyclic, form called cyclopropyl, or c-propyl. It is not isomeric with the other two forms, having the chemical formula -C₃H₅.

From left to right: the two isomeric groups prop-1-yl and prop-2-yl, and the non-isomeric cyclopropyl group.

Examples

• isopropyl alcohol

See also

• methyl
• ethyl
• butyl
• pentyl / amyl