What is the Difference Between Allyl and Vinyl?

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The main difference between allyl and vinyl groups lies in the number of carbon atoms and their arrangement in the molecule.

  • Allyl group: Contains three carbon atoms and five hydrogen atoms. The allyl group has a specific arrangement of double and single bonds, with the double bond attached to an -CH2 group. The general molecular formula for an allyl group is RCH2CH=CH2, where R represents the rest of the molecule.
  • Vinyl group: Contains two carbon atoms and three hydrogen atoms. The vinyl group has a double bond between the two carbon atoms, with all other atoms bonded through single bonds. The general molecular formula for a vinyl group is RCH=CH2, where R represents the rest of the molecule.

In summary, the key difference between allyl and vinyl groups is that allyl groups have three carbon atoms and five hydrogen atoms, while vinyl groups have two carbon atoms and three hydrogen atoms.

Comparative Table: Allyl vs Vinyl

The main difference between allyl and vinyl groups lies in the number of carbon atoms and the arrangement of double and single bonds. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences:

Feature Allyl Group Vinyl Group
Carbon Atoms Contains 3 carbon atoms Contains 2 carbon atoms
Bonding Propene group (H2C=CH-CH2-R) Ethene group (H2C=CH-R)
Double Bonds One double bond and one π bond One double bond
Arrangement Sp3 hybridized Sp2 hybridized
Reactivity allyl chloride is more reactive vinyl chloride is less reactive

In summary, the allyl group contains three carbon atoms with a specific arrangement of double and single bonds, while the vinyl group contains two carbon atoms with a double bond. The allyl group is a propene group (H2C=CH-CH2-R), and the vinyl group is an ethene group (H2C=CH-R). The allyl group is sp3 hybridized, whereas the vinyl group is sp2 hybridized. Allyl chloride is more reactive than vinyl chloride.