Basic Organic Nomenclature

Monosubstituted Benzene

Any of the functional groups we have discussed can be attached to a benzene ring. The ones which are named as prefixes simply have the prefix attached to the benzene root name.

Examples of simply monosubstituted benzenes:

Compound Name
Line Drawing
3D Model
ethylbenzene
isopropylbenzene
bromobenzene
nitrobenzene
ethoxybenzene

Unfortunately the are a number of benzene derivatives that are referred to by their common names. These have to be memorized.

Examples of commons names

Compound Name
Line Drawing
3D Model
toluene
styrene
 anisole
aniline
phenol
acetophenone
benzaldehyde
benzamide
benzoic acid

There are a number of possible combinations of these compounds where they may be substituents, or in an amine, amide, or ester. The following table illustrates some of the ways to name these compounds:
 

Compound Name
Line Drawing
Esters of benzoic acid are benzoates
i.e.
isopropyl benzoate
Amines derived from aniline are named as anilides
i.e.
methylanilide
or
N-methylaniline
 Esters of phenol use the name phenyl
i.e.
phenyl propanoate
Ethers of phenol can be named as a phenoxy substituent
i.e.
3-phenoxyheptane


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