Q. 14.54 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Melatonin is a naturally occurring compound in plants and animals, where it regulates the biological time clock. 

Melatonin is sometimes used to counteract jet lag. Identify the functional groups in melatonin. $(14.1,14.3,14.5,14.6)$

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Part a) Melatonin is an organic compound that is used sometimes to counteract jet lag.

 Part b) Let us determine the different functional groups present in melatonin.

Part c) The next functional group is an aromatic benzene ring as shown in the box below.

Part d) The functional group is shown in the box containing the amine group as follows:

Part e) The functional group present on the right side of the structure is shown in the box.

Step 1: Given information (Part a)

• We are given that : Melatonin is a naturally occurring compound in plants and animals, where it regulates the biological time clock. 
• We have to find the functional group.

Step 2: Explanation (Part a)

• Melatonin is an organic compound that is used sometimes to counteract jet lag.
•  It is present in both plants and animals. 
• The condensed structural formula of melatonin is as follows:

Step 3: Given information (Part b)

• We are given that : Melatonin is a naturally occurring compound in plants and animals, where it regulates the biological time clock. 
• We have to find the functional group.
• Let us determine the different functional groups present in melatonin. 

Step 4: Explanation (Part b)

• Let's look at the various functional groups found in melatonin. 
• We'll begin on the left side of the compound.
• The structure depicted in the box is known as ether. 
• Ether is made up of two carbon atoms with the same or different alkyl or aryl groups attached to divalent oxygen. 
• The divalent oxygen in the given compound is linked to a methyl group and an aromatic ring.

Step 5: Given information (Part c)

• We are given that : Melatonin is a naturally occurring compound in plants and animals, where it regulates the biological time clock. 
• We have to find the functional group.
• We have to find the next functional group that is an aromatic benzene ring. 

Step 6: Explanation (Part c)

The next functional group is an aromatic benzene ring as shown in the box below.

Step 7: Given information ( Part d)

• We are given that : Melatonin is a naturally occurring compound in plants and animals, where it regulates the biological time clock. 
• We have to find the functional group.
• We have to find the functional group  in the box containing the amine group. 

Step 8: Explanation (Part d)

The functional group is shown in the box containing the amine group as follows:

A cyclic amine is the next functional group. The cyclic amine is known as pyrrole. The amine group is$2^0$, indicating that nitrogen is attached to the two carbon atoms.

Step 9: Given information (Part e)

• We are given that : Melatonin is a naturally occurring compound in plants and animals, where it regulates the biological time clock. 
• We have to find the functional group.
• The functional group present on the right side of the structure is shown in the box.

Step 10: Explanation (Part e)

The functional group present on the right side of the structure is shown in the box.

The functional group is amide.

In this way, melatonin consists of four functional groups as follows:

(1) An either:

(2) An aromatic ring:

(3) An $2°$ amine of pyrrole:

(4) An amide: