The IUPAC naming convention (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry) is a systematic method for naming chemical compounds to ensure consistency and clarity worldwide. Here is an overview of the rules and guidelines for naming organic compounds:
IUPAC Naming Procedure
1. Identify the Longest Carbon Chain (Parent Chain)
- Choose the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms as the parent chain.
- If multiple chains have the same length, select the chain with the greatest number of substituents attached.
2. Number the Carbon Chain
- The carbon numbered 1 will be the one closest to the highest-priority functional group
- If the functional groups have the same priority, numbering the chain should make the numbers of the substituted carbons as low as possible
- The more oxidized the carbon is, the higher its priority in the molecule
- Oxidation states increases with more bonds to heteroatoms (atoms besides carbon and hydrogen, like oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, or halogens) and decreases with more bonds to hydrogen
- Rings are also numbered starting at the point of greatest substitution, and continues in the direction that gives the lowest numbest to the highest-priority function groups
- Double bond takes precedence over a triple bond if there is a tie in priority
3. Identify and Name Substituents
- To clarify, substituents are functional groups that aren’t part of the parent chain
- Name substituents (side chains) as prefixes.
- Common substituents include:
- Alkyl groups (e.g., methyl, ethyl, propyl).
- Halogens (e.g., fluoro, chloro, bromo, iodo).
- For multiple identical substituents, use prefixes such as di-, tri-, tetra-.
- Carbon chain substituents are names like alkanes,with the suffix -yl replacing -ane.
- The prefix n- indicates that the alkane is normale (straight chain)
4. Assign Locants to Substituents
- Indicate the position of each substituent using the corresponding carbon number in the parent chain.
- Multiple substituents of the same type will get di-, tri, and tetra- prefixes
- Separate numbers from each other with commas and separate numbers from letters with hyphens.
5. Assemble the Name
- Substituents are listed alphabetically, ignoring prefixes like di-, tri-, and tetra- (but not iso- or neo-).
- Combine the substituents, parent chain name, and functional group (if any).
- Numbers are separated with each other with commas, anf from words with hyphens
- We end the name with the backbone chain, including the suffix for the functional group of highest priority
6. Include Functional Groups
IUPAC Functional Group Priority Table
Priority | Functional Group | Suffix | Prefix
1 | Carboxylic acid | -oic acid | Carboxy-
2 | Anhydride | -oic anhydride | —
3 | Ester | -oate | Alkoxycarbonyl-
4 | Acid halide | -oyl halide | Halocarbonyl-
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