Organic Chemistry Terms Starting with D
Definitions of 43 organic chemistry terms that start with D, such as D-Sugar, Dash, Deactivate. Plain-language explanations linked to reactions and reagents.
Terms starting with D
- D-Sugar: Sugar belonging to the D stereochemical family based on its Fischer projection.
- Dash: Bond pointing behind the page in a 3D structure drawing.
- Deactivate: Make a molecule or position less reactive.
- Debye (D): Unit commonly used for molecular dipole moments.
- Decarboxylation: Removal of CO₂ from a molecule.
- Degenerate: Having the same energy.
- Degenerate Orbitals: Different orbitals with equal energy.
- Degree of Substitution: Number of carbon groups attached to a particular atom or structural feature.
- Degree of Unsaturation: Number of rings and π bonds suggested by a molecular formula.
- Dehydration: Removal of H₂O from a molecule.
- Dehydrohalogenation: Removal of H and a halogen to create a double bond.
- Delocalization: Electrons spread across several atoms instead of staying between two atoms.
- Delocalized: Describes electrons distributed over several atoms.
- Denaturation: Loss of a protein's normal 3D structure.
- DEPT ¹³C NMR: NMR technique that helps distinguish CH₃, CH₂, CH, and quaternary carbons.
- Deshielded: Nucleus experiencing less electron shielding; appears more downfield in NMR.
- Desulfurization: Removal of sulfur from a molecule.
- Dextrorotatory: Rotates plane-polarized light clockwise; written (+).
- Diagnostic Region: Spectral region containing especially useful signals for identifying functional groups.
- Diamagnetic Anisotropy: Direction-dependent magnetic effects caused by circulating electrons, important in NMR shifts.
- Diamagnetism: Behavior of substances whose electrons are all paired.
- Diastereomers: Stereoisomers that are not mirror images.
- Diastereotopic: Identical-looking groups that become nonequivalent because of molecular stereochemistry.
- Diazonium Salt: Compound containing an Ar–N₂⁺ group; useful for aromatic substitutions.
- Diazotization: Conversion of an aromatic amine into a diazonium salt.
- Diborane: B₂H₆, a boron hydride related to hydroboration chemistry.
- Dieckmann Cyclization: Intramolecular Claisen condensation that creates a ring.
- Diene: Molecule containing two C=C bonds.
- Dienophile: Alkene/alkyne partner that reacts with a diene in a Diels–Alder reaction.
- Dihedral Angle: Angle between bonds/groups when looking along another bond.
- Dihydroxylation: Adds two OH groups across a double bond.
- Diol: Molecule containing two alcohol groups.
- Dipole Moment (μ): Measure of how unevenly charge is distributed in a molecule.
- Dipole–Dipole Interactions: Attractions between permanent partial charges of polar molecules.
- Directed Aldol Addition: Aldol reaction where a specific enolate is prepared first to control the reaction.
- Disaccharide: Carbohydrate made from two monosaccharides joined together.
- Disrotatory: Ends rotate in opposite directions during certain electrocyclic reactions.
- Dissolving Metal Reduction: Reduction using a metal dissolved in a solvent, such as Na in liquid NH₃.
- Disulfide: Compound containing an S–S bond.
- Disulfide Bridge: S–S bond connecting parts of a protein, helping stabilize its structure.
- Divalent: Having a valence/charge magnitude of two.
- Doublet: NMR signal split into two peaks.
- Downfield: Toward higher ppm in NMR.
Open a term starting with D
- D-Sugar
- Dash
- Deactivate
- Debye (D)
- Decarboxylation
- Degenerate
- Degenerate Orbitals
- Degree of Substitution
- Degree of Unsaturation
- Dehydration
- Dehydrohalogenation
- Delocalization
- Delocalized
- Denaturation
- DEPT ¹³C NMR
- Deshielded
- Desulfurization
- Dextrorotatory
- Diagnostic Region
- Diamagnetic Anisotropy
- Diamagnetism
- Diastereomers
- Diastereotopic
- Diazonium Salt
- Diazotization
- Diborane
- Dieckmann Cyclization
- Diene
- Dienophile
- Dihedral Angle
- Dihydroxylation
- Diol
- Dipole Moment (μ)
- Dipole–Dipole Interactions
- Directed Aldol Addition
- Disaccharide
- Disrotatory
- Dissolving Metal Reduction
- Disulfide
- Disulfide Bridge
- Divalent
- Doublet
- Downfield