methyl

plural methyls

1. chemistryThe univalent hydrocarbon radical, CH₃-, formally derived from methane by the loss of a hydrogen atom; a compound or part of a compound formed by the attachment of such a radical.

   The southern acetates must be decarboxylated to methyls.

   2003, Russell Timkovich, 73: The Family of d-Type Hemes: Tetrapyrroles with Unusual Substituents, Karl M. Kadish, Kevin M. Smith, Roger Guilard (editors), The Porphyrin Handbook, Volume 12: The Iron and Cobalt Pigments: Biosynthesis, Structure and Degradation, page 134

   2 more examples

   You might point out in the theory of oxidation of oils, in development of rancidity in oils, that many methyls accelerate this oxidation of oils. I do not want to burden you with a lecture on chemistry but there are some methyls like iron which has both a valence of two and of three. Another example is cobalt which has a valence of both two and three.

   1973, Robert E. Cornish, Vitamin and Mineral Deficiencies, page 119

   The most stable form has the groups staggered and the methyls as far from each other as possible (DA^([dihedral angle]) = 180°).

   2005, Bruce A. Hathaway, Organic Chemistry the Easy Way, page 38