α,β-Unsaturated carbonyl compound

These compounds are prone to polymerization, giving rise to the large area of polyacrylate plastics.

Acrylic acid, its esters, and its amide derivatives feature the acryloyl group.

An enone (or alkenone) is an organic compound containing both alkene and ketone functional groups.

In an α,β-unsaturated enone, the alkene is conjugated to the carbonyl group of the ketone.

The cyclic enones include cyclopropenone, cyclobutenone,[6] cyclopentenone, cyclohexenone, and cycloheptenone.

In terms of industrial scale, polymerization dominates the use of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls.

Again because of their electrophilic character, the alkene portion of α,β-unsaturated carbonyls is good dienophiles in Diels–Alder reactions.

α,β-Unsaturated carbonyls are good ligands for low-valent metal complexes, examples being (bda)Fe(CO)3 and tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0).

Hydrogenation can target the carbonyl or the alkene (conjugate reduction) selectively, or both functional groups.

The endogenous scavenger compound glutathione naturally protects from toxic electrophiles in the body.

Some drugs (amifostine, N-acetylcysteine) containing thiol groups may protect from such harmful alkylation.