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alkyl

American  
[al-kuhl] / ˈæl kəl /

adjective

  1. containing an alkyl group.


noun

  1. an alkyl group.

alkyl British  
/ ˈælkɪl /

noun

  1. (modifier) of, consisting of, or containing the monovalent group C n H 2n+1

    alkyl group or radical

  2. an organometallic compound, such as tetraethyl lead, containing an alkyl group bound to a metal atom

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

alkyl Scientific  
/ ălkəl /
  1. A radical that has the general formula C n H 2n + 1, formed by removing a hydrogen atom from an alkane. Ethyl and propyl are alkyls.


Etymology

Origin of alkyl

1880–85; < German, equivalent to Alk ( ohol ) alcohol + -yl -yl

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These radicals are highly useful intermediates in natural product synthesis and pharmaceutical research, but most available techniques are designed for aryl ketones rather than simpler alkyl ketones.

From Science Daily

In this study, the researchers synthesized PSPBs with different molecular weights and added varying amounts of hydrophobic monomers individually and with different alkyl chains through a process known as reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer polymerization.

From Science Daily

The method involves combining three chemicals: an amine "head," two alkyl epoxide "tails" and, finally, two acyl chloride "branched tails."

From Science Daily

The attachment of the alkene produces a transient reactive species, which then reacts with the alkyl halide to form the new C–C bond.

From Nature

The 71-year-old singer said Mr. Rivera and his then-producer pushed her into a bathroom, forced her to inhale the recreational drug alkyl nitrite and then “proceeded to grope” her.

From Washington Times