Organic Chemistry Nomenclature

Chapter 1 MCAT

parent chain

The longest chain containing highest order functional group

substituents

Functional groups not apart of the parent chain

Alkanes

Simple hydrocarbon molecules with the formula CnH(2n+2)

diols

alcohol with two hydroxy groups

Aldehydes

Carbonyl group found at end of the carbon chain

Ketone

contain carbonyl group somewhere in the middle of carbon chain

Carboxylic acids

contain carbonyl group and hydroxyl group

Esters

Carboxylic deratives where hydroxyl group replaced with an alkoxy group

Amide

Carboxylic acid derative where hydroxyl group replaced by amino group

Functional Group Chain Order

Carboxylic acid, anhydride, ester, amide, aldehyde, ketone, alcohol, alkene, alkyne and alkane

Prefix/Suffix Carboxylic acid

carboxy- / -oic acid

Prefix/Suffix Anhydride

alkanoyloxycarbonyl- / anhydride

Prefix/Suffix ester

alkoxycarbonyl- / -oate

Prefix/Suffix Amide

Carbamoyl-/amido- / -amide

Prefix/Suffix Aldehyde

oxo- / -al

Prefix/Suffix Ketone

oxo/keto- / -one

Prefix/Suffix Alcohol

hydroxy - / -ol

Prefix/Suffix Alkene

alkenyl - / -ene

Prefix/Suffix alkyne

alkynl - / -yne

Prefix/Suffix alkane

-alkyl / -ane