NOMENCLATURE OF CARBOXYLIC ACIDS AND ACID DERIVATIVES

Carboxylic Acids alkane -> alkanoic acid

The parent is the longest carbon chain containing the carbon of the CO2H; number the chain with this carbon as #1.

If the CO2H is attached to a ring, the compound is a cycloalkane carboxylic acid, and the carbon of the ring to which the CO2H is attached is #1.

If two CO2H groups are present, the compound is a dioic acid, although many of these compounds are known by their trivial names.

Anhydrides alkanoic acid -> alkanoic anhydride

If R = R', the compound is symmetrical, and is named as an anhydride of the parent acid.

If R is not = R', the compound is unsymmetrical, and is named as an anhydride of both parent acids, listing them in alphabetical order.

Acid Chlorides alkanoic acid -> alkanoyl chloride

The name is again determined by that of the parent acid.

If the COCl is attached to a ring, the compound is a cycloalkane carbonyl chloride, and the carbon of the ring to which it is attached is #1.

Esters alkanoic acid -> alkyl alkanoate

Determine the name of the parent acid (R-CO2-) and of the alkyl group attached to the oxygen (R'), and list the alkyl group first.

An ester group attached to a ring makes the compound an alkyl cycloalkanecarboxylate, and the carbon of the ring to which it is attached is #1.

Amides alkanoic acid -> alkanamide

Determine the name of the parent acid, and of the alkyl groups, if any, attached to the nitrogen.

(Groups attached to the nitrogen are identified as N-alkyl substituents.)

Amides, continued

An amide attached to a ring is a cycloalkanecarboxamide, and the carbon of the ring to which it is attached is #1.

Nitriles alkane -> alkanenitrile

The parent is the longest carbon chain containing the carbon of the CN; this carbon is #1.

A nitrile attached to a ring is a cycloalkane carbonitrile, and the carbon to which it is attached is #1.

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Substituents: acids and their derivatives take priority in naming over the following functional groups, whose names as substituents are given in parentheses:

alcohols (hydroxy), amines (amino), ketones and aldehydes (both are oxo), etc.