Download Functional Group Nomenclature Handout

Supplementary Handout: Nomenclature of Common Functional Groups
Functional Groups Listed in Order of Decreasing Priority
Functional Group
Generic Formula
Principal Name
Substituent Name
(suffix)
(prefix)
carboxy
Carboxylic Acid
RCO2H
alkanoic acid
Carboxylic
Anhydrides
Carboxylic Esters
RC(O)OC(O)R
alkanoic anhydride
RCO2R'
alkyl alkanoate
alkoxycarbonyl
Acid Halides
RC(O)X
alkanoyl halide
halocarbonyl
Amides
RC(O)NR2
alkanamide
amido
Nitriles
RCN
alkanenitrile
cyano
Aldehydes
RC(O)H
alkanal
oxo
Ketones
RC(O)R'
alkanone
oxo
Alcohols
ROH
alkanol
hydroxy
Phenols
ArOH
phenol
hydroxy
Thiols
RSH
alkanethiol
mercapto
Amines
RNH2, R2NH, R3N
alkanamine
amino
Imines
alkanimine
imino
Alkene
RC(NH)R',
RC(NR")R
R2C=CR2
alkene
alkenyl
Alkyne
RCCR
alkyne
alkynyl
Alkane
RH
alkane
alkyl
Ethers
ROR
alkoxy
Sulfides
RSR
alkylthio
Halides
RX, X = F, Cl, Br, I
halo
Nitro
RNO2
nitro
Azides
RN3
azido
(Thioethers)
O
O
CN
O
H
OCH3
5-oxohexanal
methyl 3-cyanohexanoate
O
HO
H 2N
OCH3
OH
2-hydroxy-5-methoxycyclohexanone
5-amino-3-methyl-2-pentanol
O
Cl
OH
O
O
OH
(E)-5-chloro-3-methyl-3-hexenoic acid
4-oxocyclohexanecarboxylic acid
Br
C
N
O
Cl
4-bromo-3-phenylpentanenitrile
(2E,4Z)-2,4-hexadienoyl chloride
O
NO2
O
O
HO
4-ethenyl-2-nitrocyclohexanone
Cl
4-chlorocarbonyl-4-methylpentanoic acid
O
O
CH3O
Br
O
C
C
H
OH
3-bromo-4-methoxycarbonylbutanoic acid
6-ethynyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one