Carbonylate

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To chemically introduce a carbonyl group into a compound or to treat a substance with carbonyl-containing reagents to form new carbonyl derivatives
2. The process of adding a carbonyl functional group to an organic molecule or producing compounds that contain the carbon-oxygen double bond through specific reactions
3. A reaction step involving the incorporation of carbonyl groups into a substrate or the modification of materials by forming carbonyl-related structures within molecules

Etymology: Carbonylate is a chemist's coinage built from two pieces. "Carbonyl" names the carbon-oxygen group, a carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom, and the suffix "-ate" is the familiar chemical ending that turns a noun into a verb meaning to treat or combine with that substance. So to carbonylate a molecule is to introduce a carbonyl group into it. The word is a straightforward piece of scientific vocabulary rather than an old one with a story attached. Its meaning follows directly from the parts: "carbonyl" supplies the group, and "-ate" supplies the action of adding it. Chemists use the verb mainly in organic synthesis, where carbonylation reactions insert a carbonyl unit into a compound, typically using carbon monoxide.

Synonyms: introduce carbonyl, carbonylate (chemistry)