The name is composed of three sections: one or more prefixes for the substituents; a root name for the longest continuous chain or ring of carbon atoms to which the highest priority functional group is attached; and a suffix indicating what the highest priority functional group is.
Root Names: are based on the number of carbon atoms (given in parenthesis):
(1) meth, (2) eth, (3) prop, (4) but, (5) pent, (6) hex, (7) hept, (8) oct, (9) non, (10) dec, (11) undec, (12) dodec, (13) tridec, (14) tetradec, (15) pentadec, (16) hexadec, (17) heptadec, (18) octadec, (19) nonadec, (20) icos.
Note: the cyclo- prefix is added to rings (i.e. cyclobutane).
Functional Groups: Are a set of atoms arranged in a specific
bonding pattern. If it is the highest priority it will appear as a suffix,
otherwise as a prefix. The common functional groups are (in decreasing
order of priority, names in blue are attached
directly to a ring).
|
Group |
|
|
|
| Cations | R4-N+ | -ammonium
-phosphoium -sulphonium |
ammonio-
phosphonio- sulphonio- |
| Carboxylic Acids | R-CO2H | -oic acid
-carboxylic acid |
carboxy- |
| Acid Anhydrides | R-CO2-CO-R | -oic anhydride |
|
| Esters | R-CO2-R' | (alkyl) -oate
(alkyl) -carboxylate |
alkoxycarbonyl-
carbalkoxy- |
| Acyl Halides | R-CO-X | -oyl halide | haloalkanoyl-
halide alkanoyl- |
| Amides | R-CO-NH2 | -amide
-carboxamide |
carbamoyl- |
| Nitriles | R-CºN | -nitrile
-onitrile |
cyano- |
| Aldehydes | R-CHO | -al
-carbaldehyde |
alkanoyl-
-oxo- |
| Ketones | R-CO-R' | -one
alkyl alkyl ketone |
-oxo- |
| Alcohols | R-OH | -ol | hydroxy- |
| Thiols | R-SH | -thiol | mercapto- |
| Amines | R-NH2 | -amine | amino-
-aza- |
| Ethers | R-O-R' | alkyl alkyl ether | -oxa-
-alkoxy- |
| Sulphides | R-S-R' | alkyl alkyl sulphide | -alkylthio
-thia |
| Alkenes | R-C=C-R' | -ene | alkenyl- |
| Alkynes | R-CºC-R' | -yne | alkynyl- |
| Halides | R-X | -halide | halo- |
| Nitro | R-NO2 |
|
nitro- |
| Alkanes | R | -ane | -yl (alkyl-) |
Common substituent names: isopropyl (-CH(CH3)2), sec-butyl (-CH(CH3)CH2CH3), tert-butyl (-C(CH3)3), phenyl (-C6H5)
1) The numbering of the chain is done to give the lowest number to the highest priority functional group.
3) If there are more than one of a single type of substituent, indicate by a di-, tri-, tetra-,... prefix to the substituent name. (Note, there needs to be as many numbers locating the substituents as the prefix indicates i.e. 2,3-dimethyl).
4) Stereochemical features are indicated by a R/S or E/Z with the atom
number indicating the location. The stereochemistry is indicated before
the first substituent and in parenthesis (i.e. (2R,3E)- ).
Note: For syntax: there should be a comma between numbers; a hyphen between letters and numbers; and parenthesis around the name of a complex substituent and stereochemical indicators.
If this does not answer your questions check the textbook or web pages for the specific functional group.
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