Introduction
Introduction

Rules for Naming Organic Compounds

IUPAC System of Nomenclature

  1. Identify the longest continuous carbon chain containing the functional group.
  2. Number the carbons in the longest chain, so that functional groups are assigned the lowest possible number. If more than one functional group is present, the order of decreasing priority in determining the suffix is -COOH, -CHO, -CRO, -OH, -NH2, =, ≡.
  3. Define each of the groups, within and attached to, the carbon chain. Indicate the positions of the functional groups by using the carbon number that they are linked to. If a group occurs more than once, use the prefix di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- etc.
  4. Name the compound listing substituent groups alphabetically.

Note: numbers are connected to numbers with a comma and to words with a hyphen