Question

Two-step sscf to convert afex-treated switchgrass to ethanol using commercial enzymes and saccharomyces cerevisiae 424a

Answer 1

Why is isopropyl also called sec-propyl, but t-butyl is not called neobutyl (correct me if I'm wrong)?

How can isopropyl group (its not a molecule) be called as sec- butyl, when is contains only 3 carbons atoms? In isopropyl functional group is attached to 2nd position, so basically isopropyl is 2-propyl. Whereas butyl group have 4 carbon atoms.

t-butyl contains 4 carbon atoms in which one C atom is bonded with other 3 C atoms. That's why it's called tertiary. Term neo is used when one C atom is bonded with 4 C atoms that means atleast 5 C atoms must be there. So butyl can not be neo.

If we add a methyl group in 2nd position of isopropyl, it will converted to t-butyl.

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Isopropyl and sec-butyl groups are completely different! This is the distinction

This is iso propyl alcohol. Three carbon atoms (prop-) and achiral.

This is sec-butyl alcohol. Four carbon atoms (but-) and chiral.

Tert-butyl is not called neo-butyl because the ‘neo’ form has two carbon branches as substituents on the main branch. The 'neo’ form is possible only in hydrocarbons with more than 4 carbon atoms.