What is the IUPAC convention for naming alkanes?
• Find and name the longest continuous carbon chain. • Identify and name substituent groups attached to this chain. • Number the chain consecutively, starting at the end nearest the longest (or largest) substituent group. • Designate the location of each substituent group by the appropriate number and name. The prefixes di-, tri-, tetra- etc., are used to distinguish similar substituent groups. • Finish the name, listing groups in alphabetical order. The suffix for alkanes is -ane and the common prefixes for organic molecules such as meth-, eth-, prop-, etc. apply. Unbranched alkanes are denoted with an n- – see table 42.1 below.
