Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry - Alpha carbon

Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

β-Carbon (beta carbon): The carbon atom one removed from an atom, group, functional group, or other moiety of interest.

Beta carbon in an ester.

Beta carbon in an alkyl bromide.

A beta carbon can also be an alpha carbon, depending upon the reference point.

Related terms: α-Carbon, alpha-carbon, primary carbon, 1^o carbon, secondary carbon, 2^o carbon, tertiary carbon, 3^o carbon, quaternary carbon, 4^o carbon, α-hydrogen, alpha-hydrogen, β-hydrogen, β-elimination, α-helix, β-sheet
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