Methine

In chemistry, methine (also known as methylidyne) is a tri-valent functional group CH, derived formally from methane. The methine group consists of a carbon atom bound by two single bonds and one double bond, where one of the single bonds is to a hydrogen.

Additional recommended knowledge

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It is sometimes used non-systematically for a carbon with four single bonds, where one bond is to a hydrogen.

Example

Every carbon in this molecule is a methine carbon, except the two attached to the two nitrogens and that are not attached to any hydrogens, and the one attached to the nitrogen, which is attached to two hydrogens (far right). There is a five-carbon poly-methine chain in the center of this molecule.

See also

• methyl
• methylene