Nomenclature for Alcohols, Alkyl Halides, Alkenes, and Aromatics

Alcohols
Name: 1-pentanol
H3C
Note: Start counting carbons from the end that results in the
lowest number for the carbon with the hydroxyl group. In this
case, this carbon is the 1-carbon! This is a terminal, or primary,
OH alcohol.

H3C
Name: 3-pentanol

HO CH3 Note: Regardless of the direction of the counting, the third

carbon is the one bearing the hydroxyl group.

CH3
Name: 2-methyl-3-pentanol
H3C
Note: The position of the hydroxyl group dictates the sequence of
counting carbons. Always strive for the lowest numbers; therefore, this
HO CH3 is NOT 4-methyl-2-pentanol. The –OH group takes precedence in
numbering and should always be the lowest possible number.

OH
Name: cyclohexanol

Note: The “1-“ is not required since the C with the

hydroxyl group is automatically assigned the “1” position.

OH
Name: 3-isobutylcyclohexanol

Note: Again, since the C with the hydroxyl group is always the “1” carbon,
the “1-“ designation is not necessary in front of the “cyclohexanol.” Note that
the counting around the ring should proceed in a way that results in the lowest
number for the other substituents.
H3C CH3

OH Name: 1-methyl-1,4-pentanediol
H3C
Note: This is a di-substituted alcohol. Note the “diol” on the
end, and the 2 numbers that signify positions of both hydroxyl
groups. Note that the numbers should be the lowest as
OH possible!
Alkyl Halides

Name: 1-chlorohexane

H3C Cl Note: Always strive to obtain the lowest number

possible.

Br
Name: 3-bromo-1-chlorohexane

Note: Present the substituents in alphabetical order.

H3C Cl Strive for the lowest numbers possible. Therefore,
this would NOT be 4-bromo-6-chlorohexane.

Br

Name: 4-bromo-6-chloro-3-hexanol
H3C Cl
Note: Recall that the –OH group takes precedence for
OH alkyl groups and halogens.

Alkenes

H3C
Name: 2-hexene

Note: The first C of the C=C is used in the numbering

scheme. Always use the lowest number possible.
CH3

H3C
CH3
Name: 4-methyl-2-hexene

Note: The –ene group has precedence over the

alkyl group (and also over halogens). Thus, the first
CH3
C of the C=C should have the lowest possible
number.

2
H3C
CH3 Name: 3-methyl-1,4-hexadiene

Note: Note the addition of the “diene” at the end of the

name to signify two double bonds. Examples of other
CH2 di-substituted alkenes include butadiene, pentadiene,
octadiene, dodecadiene, etc.

Aromatic Compounds

Some common names have been used to frequently that they have been
accepted as IUPAC names. Names of environmentally relevant compounds
include the following:
CH3 OH
CH2
O

OH

Benzene Toluene Phenol Styrene Benzoic Acid

Cl Name(s): 1,2-dichlorobenzene, or ortho-dichlorobenzene

Note: If the substituents are on neighboring carbons, they are

Cl designated as following ortho-substitution.

Cl

Name(s): 1,3-dichlorobenzene, or meta-dichlorobenzene

Note: If the substituents are on the 1 and 3 carbons, they are

designated as following meta-substitution.
Cl

Cl
Name(s): 1,4-dichlorobenzene, or para-dichlorobenzene

Note: If the substituents are on the opposite (1- and 4-)

carbons, they are designated as following para-substitution.
Cl
Cl

Cl Name: 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene

Cl

3
 Cl Cl
Name: Pentachlorophenol

Cl Cl Note: The –OH group takes precedence. Since chlorines

substitute all remaining carbons on the ring, no numbers are
necessary! If one were to number this, however, the C with
HO Cl the –OH group is always the 1-C. (2,3,4,5,6-
pentachlorophenol).

More Examples

Name: trichlorofluoromethane (also called CFC-11)

F
Note: What does this other nomenclature system mean?
Cl Cl For CFCs and HCFCs with one carbon, the right number denotes the number of
fluorines and the left number denotes one more than the number of hydrogens. For
CFCs and HCFCs (with hydrogens) with more than one carbon, the far right
Cl number is the number of fluorines, the middle number is one less than the number
of carbons, and the left number is one more than the number of hydrogens. Can
you draw one representation of CFC-12 and CFC-134 (a replacement of CFC-12)?

HO
Name: 4-buten-1-ol

Note: The –OH rules over halogens and alkyl groups.

Thus, the C with the –OH must be lower in number.
Note the use of “en” and “ol” in the name.
CH2

OH Name: 2-bromo-6-methyl-6-hepten-3-ol
H 3C CH3
Note: This one is loaded! Recall that the –OH must always
have the lowest designation possible. The longest chain must
include the C=C! Recall also that the alkene has precedence
CH2 Br
over the alkyl and halogen groups, which are then alphabetized
in front of the –en and –ol designations.