Acyl phosphates

Definition

Acyl phosphates are high-energy carboxylic acid derivatives where the acyl group is bonded to a phosphate group. They are key intermediates in nucleophilic acyl substitution reactions, facilitating the transfer of the acyl group due to their high reactivity.

Related terms

Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: Compounds formed from carboxylic acids by replacing the hydroxyl group with another atom or group of atoms.

Nucleophilic Acyl Substitution: A reaction mechanism where a nucleophile displaces a leaving group attached to an acyl carbon, leading to the formation of a new covalent bond.

Activation Energy: The minimum amount of energy required to initiate a chemical reaction; in the context of acyl phosphates, their high energy lowers the activation energy for subsequent reactions