semicarbazide Chem.
(sɛmɪˈkɑːbəzaɪd)
[f. semi- 8 h + carb- + azo- + -ide.]
A colourless, crystalline, basic solid, NH2·CO·NH·NH2, derived from urea by substitution of a hydrazino group for one of the amino groups, which reacts with carbonyl compounds to form semicarbazones. Also, a derivative of this.
| 1892 Jrnl. Chem. Soc. LXII. ii. 1297 When amidoguanidine is treated with dilute acids, or with caustic alkalis, and is first converted into semicarbazide with liberation of ammonia. 1938 G. H. Richter Textbk. Org. Chem. xiii. 224 Semicarbazide is a valuable reagent for..the Wolff-Kishner reduction of the carbonyl group. 1968 R. O. C. Norman Princ. Org. Synthesis x. 315 In order to obtain derivatives for the characterization of the carbonyl compound it is more satisfactory to use a monosubstituted hydrazine; semicarbazide, phenylhydrazine, and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine are commonly chosen. |