Semicarbazone
![](http://178.128.105.246/cars-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Semicarbazone.png/220px-Semicarbazone.png)
![](http://178.128.105.246/cars-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/96/Nitrofurazone.png/220px-Nitrofurazone.png)
In organic chemistry, a semicarbazone is a derivative of imines formed by a condensation reaction between a ketone or aldehyde and semicarbazide. They are classified as imine derivatives because they are formed from the reaction of an aldehyde or ketone with the terminal -NH2 group of semicarbazide, which behaves very similarly to primary amines.
Formation
[edit]- For ketones
- H2NNHC(=O)NH2 + RC(=O)R → R2C=NNHC(=O)NH2
- For aldehydes
- H2NNHC(=O)NH2 + RCHO → RCH=NNHC(=O)NH2
For example, the semicarbazone of acetone would have the structure (CH3)2C=NNHC(=O)NH2.
Properties and uses
[edit]Some semicarbazones, such as nitrofurazone, and thiosemicarbazones are known to have anti-viral and anti-cancer activity, usually mediated through binding to copper or iron in cells. Many semicarbazones are crystalline solids, useful for the identification of the parent aldehydes/ketones by melting point analysis.[1]
A thiosemicarbazone is an analog of a semicarbazone which contains a sulfur atom in place of the oxygen atom.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Williamson, Kenneth L. (1999). Macroscale and Microscale Organic Experiments, 3rd ed. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin. pp. 426–7. ISBN 0-395-90220-7.