Acetal vs. Hemiacetal
Main DifferenceThe main difference between Acetal and Hemiacetal is that Acetal consists of primarily two –OR groups, whereas Hemiacetal consists of one -OH group and one -OR group.
Difference Between Acetal and Hemiacetal
Acetal vs. Hemiacetal
An Acetal is known as a functional group; on the other hand, hemiacetal is a compound that is derived from the ketones and aldehydes, respectively.
Acetal vs. Hemiacetal
The Acetal consists of a connectivity RHC(OR’)2 in which both R groups are considered organic fragments. The central carbon atom of Acetal consists of four bonds in it and hence is saturated and forms a tetrahedral geometry. At the same time, on its contrary, the general formula of hemiacetal is RHC(OH)OR’.
Acetal vs. Hemiacetal
The central carbon atom of acetal is directly bonded to an –H group, two –OR groups, and –R group; on its flip side, the central carbon atom of hemiacetal is directly bonded to four groups as an -R group, –OR group, -H group, -OH group.
Acetal vs. Hemiacetal
The formation of acetal is done from the reaction which happens between an aldehydic group and alcohol; on the other hand, the hemiacetal is formed by the formal addition of alcohol into a carbonyl group. Hemiacetal is formed as an intermediary of the reaction between an aldehydic group and alcohol, alcohol adding through nucleophilic addition reaction into resonance alleviated hemiacetal cation and a half break down of hydrogen of an acetal.
Acetal vs. Hemiacetal
The acetal is relatively considered more stable as compared to the hemiacetal; in its comparison, the hemiacetal is considered less stable as compared to the acetal.
Acetal vs. Hemiacetal
Benzylidene acetal, Dioxolane, Paraldehyde, Dimethoxymethane, Metaldehyde, Phenylsulfonylethylidene (PSE) acetal, Most glycosidic bonds in carbohydrates and many polysaccharides are acetal linkages, Cellulose, Polyoxymethylene, and 1,1-Diethoxyethane are some examples of acetal; on its contrary, an Aldose, and Glucose are the examples of the hemiacetal.
Acetalnoun
(organic chemistry) Any diether of a geminal diol, R2C(OR')2 (where R' is not H).
Hemiacetalnoun
(organic chemistry) Any of a class of compounds of general formula R1R2C(OH)OR' (where R' is not H and R1 or R2 is often hydrogen).
Acetalnoun
any organic compound formed by adding alcohol molecules to aldehyde molecules
Hemiacetalnoun
an organic compound usually formed as an intermediate product in the preparation of acetals from aldehydes or ketones
Comparison Chart
| Acetal | Hemiacetal |
| Acetal is known as a functional group used explicitly for the aldehyde associated cases in which at least one hydrogen is present in place of an R on the central carbon atom. | Hemiacetal is known as a compound that occurs when the alcohol adds an aldehyde or a ketone. It is a Greek word ‘Hemi’ which means half. |
| Considered As | |
| Considered as a group of atoms that is typically symbolized by a central carbon atom which is directly bonded to an –H group, two –OR groups, and –R group | Considered as a group of atoms which is made up of a central carbon atom directly bonded to four groups as an -R group, –OR group, -H group, -OH group |
| General Formula | |
| RHC(OR’)2 is given as the general formula | RHC(OH)OR’ is given as the general formula |
| Formation | |
| Can be produced from the reaction which occurs between an aldehyde group and an alcohol | Produced as an intermediary of the reaction between an aldehydic group and alcohol, nucleophilic addition of an alcohol to resonance stabilized hemiacetal cation and half hydrolysis of an acetal |
| Stability | |
| Known to be more stable when associated with a hemiacetal | Known to be less stable when compares with an acetal |
| Examples | |
| The examples are Benzylidene acetal, Dioxolane, Paraldehyde, Dimethoxymethane, Metaldehyde, Phenylsulfonylethylidene (PSE) acetal, Most glycosidic bonds in carbohydrates and many polysaccharides are acetal linkages, Cellulose, Polyoxymethylene, 1,1-Diethoxyethane | Aldose, and Glucose |
Acetal vs. Hemiacetal
Acetal is considered as a group of atoms that is usually symbolized by a central carbon atom which is directly bonded to an –H group, two –OR groups, and –R group. On the other hand, hemiacetal is considered as a group of atoms that is made up of a central carbon atom directly bonded to four groups as an -R group, –OR group, -H group, -OH group. RHC(OR’)2 is given as the general formula of an acetal, while in its comparison, RHC(OH)OR’ is given as the general formula of the hemiacetal.
Acetal can be produced from the reaction which occurs between an aldehyde group and alcohol; on the contrary of acetal, hemiacetal is produced as an intermediary of the reaction between an aldehydic group and alcohol, nucleophilic addition of an alcohol to resonance stabilized hemiacetal cation and half hydrolysis of an acetal. Acetal is known to be more stable when associated with a hemiacetal, while hemiacetal, on the other hand, is known to be less stable when compares with an acetal.
The examples of acetal are Benzylidene acetal, Dioxolane, Paraldehyde, Dimethoxymethane, Metaldehyde, Phenylsulfonylethylidene (PSE) acetal, Most glycosidic bonds in carbohydrates and many polysaccharides are acetal linkages, Cellulose, Polyoxymethylene, 1,1-Diethoxyethane; on its contrary, some examples of hemiacetal are Aldose, and Glucose.
What is Acetal?
The group of atoms which are described as having the central carbon atom, which is then bonded to -R group, two –OR groups, and a –H group is known as acetal. The central carbon atom of acetal is mainly sp3 hybridized. The R groups of acetal are organic fragments and are alkyl groups, and all these R groups can be the same or different from each other.
RHC(OR’)2 is written as the standard formula of an acetal. An acetal is considered as geminal diether derived from a ketone and an aldehyde. Alkyl groups are frequently similar when bonded to oxygen atoms. The central carbon atom having two oxygen atoms is called acetal carbon. The group of acetal is known as a functional group.
Another type of acetal is Ketal. In ketal, the central carbon atom is attached with two –R groups and two –OR groups, and there are preset no hydrogen atom bonded to the central carbon atom. As the central carbon atom of acetal forms four bonds and hence, it is saturated, so it forms a tetrahedral geometry.
If the two alky groups of acetal are equivalent, which are attached with oxygen atoms, then it will be known as symmetrical acetal. But if the two alkyls are changed from each other, then they will be known as mixed acetal.
What is Hemiacetal?
A group of atoms that are mainly composed of a central carbon atom, which is then attached with four groups named as -OH group, a –H group, an –OR group, and -R group is known as hemiacetal. Hemiacetal is derived from Acetal, or if it is produced from a ketone, then it will be known as a hemiketal.
RHC(OH)OR’ is written as the general formula of hemiacetal in which the –OR group, which is attached with the central carbon atom, signifies an ether group, whereas the –OH group, which is also attached with the carbon atom, symbolizes the alcoholic group. That is why the hemiacetal is produced when the adding of alcohol into a carbonyl group occurs.
Alcohol contains –OH group that can attack the carbonyl group, and it is known as the nucleophilic addition reaction. In the production of acetals from aldehydes, the hemiacetal is produced as an intermediary between them. Hence, hemiacetals can either be produced by the process of partial hydrolysis of an acetal. Acetal can be formed when the reaction between an alcohol and a hemiacetal occurs.
ConclusionThe above discussion concludes that both Acetal and Hemiacetal are functional groups. The difference between them is that Acetal contains two –OR groups. In its comparison, hemiacetal contains one –OH group and only one –OR group, and Hemiacetal is derived from Acetal and form as an intermediate in the reaction of Acetal.
