Organic nomenclature

The embeds on this page are very broken, and I don’t care enough about html to fix them.

A very simple example is given for each, followed by a more complex one to highlight nomenclature and counting schemes.

Nomenclature follows the general pattern [main][suffix].

• [suffix] is taken from the highest priority functional group
• [main] may be quite complicated, but can only consist of numbers or prefix names

Alkanes

Butane4-ethyl-6-methylnonane

<embed id=”hardalkane” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=53426720&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”>

Haloalkanes

• Also called alkyl halides → Suffix exists in this case: (alkyl) fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide

Chlorobenzene2-chloro-3,3-dimethylbutane <embed id=”easyhalo” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=7964&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”><embed id=”hardhalo” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=521807&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”>

Alcohols

• Remember alcOHOL → OH is the functional group → OL is the priority group name

Ethanol3-methylbutan-1,3-diol <embed id=”easyalcohol” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=702&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”><embed id=”hardalcohol” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=247470&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”>

Aldehydes

Methanal3-ethyl-4-methylhexanal <embed id=”easyalde” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=712&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”><embed id=”hardalde” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=20283474&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”>

Ketones

• Must be bonded to a secondary carbon

Propanone 3-ethyl-4-methylhexan-2-one <embed id=”easyketone” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=180&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”><embed id=”hardketone” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=59746911&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”>

Carboxylic acids

Methanoic acid4-ethylhexanoic acid <embed id=”easyacid” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=284&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”><embed id=”hardacid” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=22734&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”>

Esters

• The main chain always starts with the carboxylic acidic carbon

Methylethanoatebutyl 3-chlorobutanoate <embed id=”easyester” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=6584&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”><embed id=”hardester” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=143096&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”>

Ethers

• Remember ethers have a carbon on either side of the oxygen
• The main chain is the longest one, starting from the oxygen

Methoxyethane3-ethoxy-4-methylhexane <embed id=”easyether” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=10903&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”><embed id=”hardether” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=54071659&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”>

Amines

• Differentiate between amino groups with N/N’
• Branches off amino groups are denoted N-alkyl
• If more than one identical alkyl, write N,N-alkyl

MethanamineN-ethyl-N-methylheptan-3-amine <embed id=”easyamine” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=6329&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”><embed id=”hardamine” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=17937709&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”>

Amides

• Main chain always starts from R
• Substituents may hang off the N, named in the same fashion as amines

Ethanamide (acetamide)N-ethyl-N-propyl-2-methylpentanamide <embed id=”easyamide” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&cid=178&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”><embed id=”hardamide” src=https://embed.molview.org/v1/?mode=balls&smiles=C(C(C)CCC)(N(CCC)CC)=O&bg=gray width=”40%” height=”300”>