Side chain

This article is about the chemistry term. For other uses, see Side-chain (disambiguation).
This article is about the side chain of any type of long molecule. For replacement of a hydrogen atom on a hydrocarbon chain, see Substituent.
IUPAC definition

Branch
Side-chain
Pendant chain
An oligomeric or polymeric offshoot from a macromolecular chain.

Notes

  1. An oligomeric branch may be termed a short-chain branch.
  2. A polymeric branch may be termed a long-chain branch.[1]

In organic chemistry and biochemistry, a side chain is a chemical group that is attached to a core part of the molecule called the "main chain" or backbone. The side chain is a hydrocarbon branching element of a molecule that is attached to a larger hydrocarbon backbone. It is one factor in determining a molecule's properties and reactivity.[2] A side chain is also known as a pendant chain, but a pendant group (side group) has a different definition.

  1. ^ Jenkins, A. D.; Kratochvíl, P.; Stepto, R. F. T.; Suter, U. W. (1996). "Glossary of basic terms in polymer science (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)" (PDF). Pure and Applied Chemistry. 68 (12): 2287–2311. doi:10.1351/pac199668122287. S2CID 98774337.
  2. ^ Wade, L.G. (2010). Organic Chemistry, 7th Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. pp. 70–78. ISBN 978-0-321-59231-6.