Methyl

Methyl is an alkyl derived from methane, containing one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms — CH3. In formulas, the group is often abbreviated Me. Such hydrocarbon groups occur in many organic compounds. It is a very stable group in most molecules. While the methyl group is usually part of a larger molecule, it can be found on its own in any of three forms: anion, cation or radical. The anion has eight valence electrons, the radical seven and the cation six. All three forms are highly reactive and rarely observed.

Structure and bonding

The methyl group is the smallest alkyl group derived from alkanes. It consists of a carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms. In the methyl cation, the carbon is bonded to three hydrogens and has a positive charge, with six valence electrons. The methyl anion contains two pairs of non-bonding electrons and one pair of bonding electrons, with the carbon atom carrying a negative charge. The methyl radical has one unpaired electron and is neutral.

Occurrence

Methyl groups are found in many organic compounds, including alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, aromatic compounds, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, esters, amides, amines, amino acids, proteins, DNA, RNA, and others. They are also found in many inorganic compounds such as methyl chloride and methyl mercury.

Reactions

Methyl groups can participate in many chemical reactions, including substitution reactions, addition reactions, and elimination reactions. They can also undergo oxidation and reduction reactions.

Biological importance

Methyl groups are important in biology, where they are involved in methylation reactions. Methylation of DNA and proteins affects their function and is a common form of post-translational modification. Methyl groups can also be added to or removed from molecules in metabolism, affecting their activity.

See also

• Methylation
• Methyl group
• Methyltransferase
• Methyl donor
• Methyl acceptor

Methyl Resources
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