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/ˌæl.əˈsaɪ.klɪk/
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/ˌæl.əˈsaɪ.klɪk/
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/ˌæl.əˈsaɪ.klɪk/
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/ˌæl.əˈsaɪ.klɪk/
Alicyclic describes organic chemical compounds that contain one or more carbon rings but lack the special stability and delocalized electrons of aromatic rings — think of them as 'ring-shaped aliphatics', like cyclohexane or norbornane. They behave more like straight-chain alkanes than benzene, often undergoing addition reactions rather than substitution.
Cyclohexane is a classic example of an alicyclic hydrocarbon.
Unlike benzene, this alicyclic compound readily undergoes hydrogenation.
The drug's alicyclic moiety contributes to its metabolic stability.
NMR spectroscopy helps distinguish aromatic from alicyclic protons.
Many terpenes feature fused alicyclic ring systems.
ali-
Comes from the Latin prefix 'al-' (variant of 'al-', meaning 'other' or 'different'), but in chemical nomenclature, 'ali-' is a modern combining form derived from 'aliphatic', itself from Greek 'aleiphar' (oil, fat), via Latin 'aliphar'. It denotes non-aromatic, saturated or unsaturated open-chain or cyclic hydrocarbons. Examples include aliphatic, alicyclic, alkenyl, alkyl.
cyclic
Comes from the Greek 'kyklos' (κύκλος), meaning 'circle' or 'ring'. In chemistry, it refers to compounds containing one or more closed rings of atoms. The root conveys structural closure and repetition. Examples include cyclic, cyclize, cyclohexane, pericyclic, acyclic.