Hydroxymethyl

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Hydroxymethyl in the field of chemistry, particularly in organic chemistry, is the name for a functional group with the structural formula -CH₂-OH. The hydroxymethyl group consists of a methylene (-CH₂-) group connected to a hydroxy (-OH) group. This makes the hydroxymethyl group an alcohol. The hydroxymethyl group structurally resembles the methoxy group (-O-CH₃) that differs only in the attachment site and orientation to the rest of the molecule. However, their chemical properties are different.

[edit] See also

• Functional group
• Hydroxy
• Methoxy