Acetyl

Chemical structure of an acetyl group bound to the remainder R of a molecule.

In organic chemistry, acetyl (IUPAC name ethanoyl) is a functional group, the acyl of acetic acid, with chemical formula -C O C H₃. It is sometimes abbreviated as Ac (not to be confused with the element actinium). The acetyl radical contains a methyl group single-bonded to a carbonyl. The carbon of the carbonyl has a lone electron available, with which it forms a chemical bond to the remainder R of the molecule.

The acetyl radical is a component of many organic compounds, including the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and the analgesics acetaminophen and acetylsalicylic acid (better known as aspirin). Acetyl groups are frequently added to histones and other proteins modifying their properties. The introduction of an acetyl group into a molecule is called acetylation (or ethanoylation). In biological organisms, acetyl groups are commonly transferred bound to Coenzyme A (CoA), in the form of acetyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA is an important intermediate both in the biological synthesis and in the breakdown of many organic molecules.

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