Acetoxy group

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Chemical group (–OC(O)CH3)

title: "Acetoxy group" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["functional-groups"] description: "Chemical group (–OC(O)CH3)" topic_path: "general/functional-groups" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acetoxy_group" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Chemical group (–OC(O)CH3) ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Acetoxy_group.svg" caption="blue}}{{nbsp}}blue."] ::

In organic chemistry, the acetoxy group (abbr. AcO– or –OAc; IUPAC name: acetyloxy), is a functional group with the formula and the structure . As the -oxy suffix implies, it differs from the acetyl group () by the presence of an additional oxygen atom. The name acetoxy is the short form of acetyl-oxy.

Functionality

An acetoxy group may be used as a protection for an alcohol functionality in a synthetic route although the protecting group itself is called an acetyl group.

Alcohol protection

There are several options of introducing an acetoxy functionality in a molecule from an alcohol (in effect protecting the alcohol by acetylation):

Acetyl halide, such as acetyl chloride in the presence of a base like triethylamine
Activated ester form of acetic acid, such as a N-hydroxysuccinimide ester, although this is not advisable due to higher costs and difficulties.
Acetic anhydride in the presence of base with a catalyst such as pyridine with a bit of DMAP added.

An alcohol is not a particularly strong nucleophile and, when present, more powerful nucleophiles like amines will react with the above-mentioned reagents in preference to the alcohol.

Alcohol deprotection

For deprotection (regeneration of the alcohol)

Aqueous base (pH 9)
Aqueous acid (pH
Anhydrous base such as sodium methoxide in methanol. Very useful when a methyl ester of a carboxylic acid is also present in the molecule, as it will not hydrolyze it like an aqueous base would. (Same also holds with an ethoxide in ethanol with ethyl esters)

References

(2014). "Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book)". [[Royal Society of Chemistry.
Ouellette, Robert J.. (2019). "Organic Chemistry".
Cali, Khasim. (2020-08-19). "Odorant Binding and Chemosensory Proteins".
(2021). "Glycoscience Protocols (GlycoPODv2)". Japan Consortium for Glycobiology and Glycotechnology.
Wall, Leo A.. (1963-09-01). "Reactions of polyfluorobenzenes with nucleophilic reagents". [[Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology]].
Matyjaszewski, Krzysztof. (2012). "Polymer Science: A Comprehensive Reference". [[Elsevier Science]].
Howard, Kyle T.. (2016-01-02). "Preparation and Applications of 4-Methoxybenzyl Esters in Organic Synthesis". [[Organic Preparations and Procedures International]].
Banyikwa, Andrew Toyi. (2017-10-31). "Anhydrous Monoalkylguanidines in Aprotic and Nonpolar Solvents: Models for Deprotonated Arginine Side Chains in Membrane Environments". [[ACS Omega]].

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