Amyl

The word or root amyl has two meanings, in organic chemistry and biochemistry.

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Biochemistry

In biochemistry, "amyl" means "pertaining to starch". Many moderately complex biological chemicals related to starch contain it, for example:-

• amylase
• amylopectin
• amylose

Note that in this usage, it is a part of the word, and becomes "amylo" when preceding a consonant.

Chemistry

In organic chemistry, amyl is the old trivial name for the radical called pentyl under the IUPAC nomenclature: that is, -C₅H₁₁. This usage may derive from the presence of amyl alcohol in fusel oil, which is often fermented from starches. In this usage, amyl (normally) remains a separate word and it does not become "amylo-" before a consonant.

Several important amyl/pentyl compounds are still widely known by their older, amyl names, including:

• amylamine
• amyl acetate
• amyl alcohol
• amyl nitrate
• amyl nitrite

There are eight possible isomers of amyl; see under pentyl for more information. Frequently chemicals sold commercially as amyl compounds will be a mixture of several isomers.

Slang

"Amyl" is also a slang term for amyl nitrite when used as a recreational drug.

Etymology

"Amyl", used to mean "starch", was taken from Greek αμυλος = "cake made from fine flour", from α + μυλη = "not mill" because the flour used to make an αμυλος was not ground on the same grindstones as ordinary bread flour.

See also

• methyl
• ethyl
• propyl
• butyl