We know that the carbonyl group in the molecule and two hydrocarbon-linked compounds called ketones. If one of them is aromatic base, it can be seen as mixed aromatic ketone, if both are aromatic base, it can be seen as a simple aromatic ketone. For example, benzophenone, acetophenone are aromatic ketones, the alkyl aromatic mixed ketones are liquid, simple aromatic ketones are solid. Aromatic ketone is insoluble in water, and soluble in organic solvents. In the chemical and pharmaceutical aspects aromatic ketone is important industrial raw materials.
Most aromatic ketones can react with aromatic chlorides or anhydrides or aromatic hydrocarbons in the presence of aluminum chloride (Friedel-Crafts reaction).
The boiling point of ketone is lower than the corresponding alcohol; ketone is soluble in organic solvents, ketone whose carbon number below 4 is soluble in water. The carbon atom of the ketone is sp2 hybrid state, connect with the oxygen atom with double bond (a σ bond, a π bond), electronegativity of oxygen atom is stronger than carbon atom, in that the electron cloud bias oxygen atom, and carbon atom electron density is low, so carbon atom presents part of the positive, prone to nucleophilic addition reaction. But because the carbonyl group has two hydrocarbon groups, the nucleophilic activity of the ketone is lower than that of the aldehyde.
Ketones are important organic compounds widely found in nature, In addition usually extracted from animal and plant bodies, they are usually prepared by the oxidation of alcohols and hydrocarbons, Friedel-Crafts of aromatic hydrocarbons, pyrolysis of carboxylic acids and carboxylates and so on.