What is the difference in isbutyl and sec butyl? How , please explain.
1 Answer
Dec 21, 2017
Sec butyl relates to functionality on the 2nd carbon atom in the chain. Isobutyl relates to the "isobutane" isomer.
Explanation:
If you take C4 alcohols as an example,
This is butane
Substitute a hydrogen on the 1st carbon with hydroxy group, and you have primary alcohol, 1-butanol, or n-butanol.
If, however, you substitute a hydrogen on the 2nd carbon with hydroxy group, you have a secondary alcohol, 2-butanol, or "sec-butanol" or "sec-butyl alcohol".
The primary alcohol formed by substituting a hydrogen on the 1st carbon of the isomer of butane, called 2-methyl propane, or "isobutane" would be "isobutanol" or "isobutyl alcohol".
