How would you name complex organic compounds?

How many carbons are in the longest carbon chain?

Prefixes: meth- (1), eth- (2), prop- (3), but- (4), pent- (5), hex- (6)

What functional groups are present?

[GCSE] Suffixes: -ene (C=C/alkene), -yne (C=-C/alkyne), -ol (R-OH/alcohol)

[AS] Suffixes: -anal (R-CHO/aldehyde), -oic acid (R-COOH/carboxylic acid), -one (R-C=O/ketone), -oyl chloride (R-COCl/acyl chloride)

[A2] Suffixes: -oate (R-COOR/ester), -amine (R-NH2/amine), -amide (R-CONH2/amide), -nitrile (R-C=-N/nitrile)

Steps:

Identify longest carbon chain and functional groups on this chain (A)

Identify carbon number on which sidechains are attached (B)

Name the sidechains (C)

Naming format: (B) (C) (A) separating two numbers with a comma & numbers and words with a dash; di- for 2 and tri- for 3 of the same sidechains

Example:

A: prefix is but- and suffix is -oic acid hence butanoic acid

B: carbons 1 and 3

C: methyl groups on carbon 1 and 3

Naming format: (B) (C) (A) hence 1,3-dimethyl butanoic acid

SJ
Answered by Sneha J. Chemistry tutor

5102 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain why water molecules form on average two hydrogen bonds per molecule, whereas ammonia molecules (NH3) form only one.


Explain how the electron pair repulsion theory can be used to deduce the shape of, and the bond angle in, NH3.


Why is ethylamine a stronger base than phenylamine?


Ethanol can be made from the reaction between ethene and water. The reaction is exothermic and occurs at a high temperature. Describe and explain the effect of raising the temperature on the rate of achievement of equilibrium and the equilibrium yield.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences