[wuhtzu]

Hi guys

I study physics, but have been doing some photolysis (using lasers) of a substance commonly called methyl vinyl ketone which turns out to be butenone using the IUPAC nomenclature: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methyl_vinyl_ketone

How would I go about constructing a semi-structural formula conveying just a little information about its structure without drawing the actual structure. The molecular formula is C₄H₆O, could I do something like:

CH₃COCHCH₂

??

Thanks for your input!

Wuhtzu

[Biopolmonkey]

What you have written is absolutely fine.

[wuhtzu]

Thanks for your reply Biopolmonkey.

My fear was just that some part of the semi-structure formula would be wrongly associated with some other substance (say an ether or acid which has nothing to do with my substance) which commonly uses some of the same structure, say, "COC" or "CH3CO"...

But if that's not the case I'll go ahead and write CH₃COCHCH₂

[Biopolmonkey]

Generally, the context allows determination of ether vs ketone, but you can use brackets to good effect like this: CH₃C(=O)CHCH₂ if you are concerned. (and same goes for ethers).

There is no worry of your molecule being mistaken for say, an acid or an ester because they both contain two oxygen atoms.

[wuhtzu]

The acid / ester example we pure imagination - chemistry is a long way back and sadly it's quickly forgotten

But thanks everyone - I got the answer / confirmation I needed.