• Eheran@lemmy.fmhy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Moiety? Motif? Never heard of these things in this context. Why not just compound or structure? Good post otherwise.

    • Stilicho@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      I’m not referring to the compound or structure as a whole with this. Calling anything a moiety is just a way of singling out one specific part of a molecule, without it having to be a specific functional group in chemistry (like amines, alcohols, methoxy groups, halides, ketones, etc.). It’s sometimes also called a motif in the same way that repeating paterns in art can be a motif.

      You’re right that I probably put that in a confusing way. What I meant is that methyl groups are mostly used in the context of methoxy groups and secondary (like methamphetamine) and tertiary amines/imines and ethers, but sometimes also with a carbon - carbon bond, which isn’t really the same thing.