Is CH2 an alkyl group?

2 Answers
Apr 19, 2018

Alone?

It's generally called a carbene, which is very reactive with alkenes, forming cyclopropane.

In a molecule? I would call it a (1) methylene.

puu.shpuu.sh

Apr 19, 2018

Simply put: no, it isn't.

Explanation:

An alkyl group is generally understood to be a stable substituent functional group, in other words, something that is attached to the carbon backbone of an organic species.

CH2 is either part of the carbon backbone (not something attached to it), i.e. CH2, or (as the other poster commented) it could be in the form of a carbene, which is a highly reactive intermediate with two unshared valance electrons (:CH2).

So in neither case would the term "alkyl group" apply.