What is the IUPAC name for the compound shown?
The IUPAC name for the compound shown is 2-methylpentane. This is determined by the following steps:
- Identify the longest carbon chain. The longest carbon chain in the compound shown is five carbons long, so it is a pentane.
- Number the carbon chain from the end that gives the substituents the lowest possible numbers. In this case, the substituents are the methyl groups, so we number the carbon chain from the left end.
- Assign the substituent prefixes to the longest carbon chain. The methyl groups are located at the 2nd and 3rd carbons of the pentane chain, so the IUPAC name is 2,3-dimethylpentane.
Questions related to the IUPAC name for the compound shown:
- What if the longest carbon chain had a different number of carbons?
If the longest carbon chain had a different number of carbons, the IUPAC name would change accordingly. For example, if the longest carbon chain had six carbons, the compound would be named hexane.
- What if the substituents were different?
If the substituents were different, the IUPAC name would also change. For example, if the substituents were two ethyl groups, the compound would be named 2,3-diethylhexane.
- What if the substituents were located on different carbons?
If the substituents were located on different carbons, the IUPAC name would use the lowest possible numbers to identify the substituents. For example, if one methyl group was located on the 2nd carbon and the other methyl group was located on the 4th carbon, the compound would be named 2,4-dimethylpentane.
Conclusion
The IUPAC name for the compound shown is 2-methylpentane. This is determined by identifying the longest carbon chain, numbering the carbon chain from the end that gives the substituents the lowest possible numbers, and assigning the substituent prefixes to the longest carbon chain.
