FUNCTIONAL GROUPS

1.1 Functional group: - Functional group are atom or group of atom which participate
in chemical reaction of organic compound. Chemical properties
of organic compound depend upon the function group.
Functional group has specific name, definite structure and
consists of specific atoms.

Functional group is attached to a chain of hydrocarbon.

Hydrocarbon chain generally does not participate in the chemical
reaction and remains passive.
Chemically a molecule behaves similar to any other molecule
which has the same functional group.

1.2 Family name Alcohol, Aldehyde, Alkane, Alkene, Alkyne, Amide, Amine,
of groups Azo compound, Benzene derivative, Carboxylic acid, Cyanate,
Disulfide, Ester, (alphabetical Ether, Haloalkane , Imine ,
Isocyanide , Isocyanate , Ketone Nitrile ,order)
Nitro compound, Nitroso compound , Peroxide , Phosphoric acid
Pyridine derivative, Sulfone, Sulfonic acid, Sulfoxide, Thioester,
Thioether, Thiol.

1.3
1.4 Nomenclature

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) recommended a

scientific and systematic method of vast variety of organic compound. Every effort has
been made to ensure that an undisputable unambiguous structure must be developed
based on IUPAC names of organic compounds
 However in practice and in day to day communication IPUAC names are
generally not followed.
Trivial names or common names are well in use. Some of the trivial names are so popular
that IUPAC has adopted them

IUPAC name essentially consists of three parts. Prefix, Parent and Suffix. The
parent parts indicates base name of the molecule. Suffix identifies the functional
group family. Prefix gives location of functional group and the other substituents (a
group attached as a branch to the longest chain on the parent)

The Parent part of name depends on number of carbon atom forming the
longest chain in the molecule. These carbon atoms must be bonded to each other and
should form an unbroken chain. Each parent name represents a specific number of
carbons.

The suffix and prefix in the name indicates type of bond (single, double, or
triple), functional group as well as substituent group.

Location of functional group and multiple bonds is indicated by designating

each carbon in the longest chain by a number

1.5 Determining the Name as per IUPAC Rules :

1. Identify the longest unbroken carbon chain in the molecule and

select a parent name depending upon the number of carbon atoms
present in the longest chain. The longest chain must include
maximum number of multiple bonds, functional and substituent
groups.

(Higher than ten number of carbons are indicated by Greek counting number)

2. Identify the type of bonds (single, double or triple) in the parent

carbon chain

3. Select a suitable suffix such as ’ane’, ‘ene’, and, ‘yne’ for single
double and triple bond respectively.
 4. Attach name of functional group to suffix if its name appear in suffix
column of table in section 1.3. However if the functional group name is also
present in prefix column the name of the functional group is decided as per
functional priority (section1.3)

5. Determine the name of substituent group if it is present.

6. Substituent group is named by adding ‘yl ’to the base name of

substituent group ;e.g.
if there there is one carbon in substituent group then it is named as
( meth+yl) methyl and if there are two carbons then the name is (eth+yl)
ethyl and so on

7. Substituent group is always written as prefix and function group

always as suffix

7. Number the carbon in chain consecutively, starting at the end

nearest a substituent group in such a way that substitutent multiple
bonds and functional group get the number as per the priority list

9. Designate the location of each substituent group by an appropriate

number and name.

10. Assemble the name, listing groups in alphabetical order.

11. The prefixes di, tri, tetra etc., used to designate several groups of
the same kind.

12. Only one functional group is treated as suffix. However if there are
more then one functional group then highest priority group is treated as
functional group and others as substituent group. The priority of the groups is
as follows Carboxylic acid,> Thiocarboxylic acid, > Sulfonic acid, > easter, > acyl
chlorides, > amides, > nitriles,> aldehydes,> ketones, > alcohols, > amines, >
eather,> double bond, triple bond, > substituent group

13. The word ‘cyclo’ should be attached to the prefix for naming the
cyclic compound

14. Certain common name, and prefix are adopted by IUPAC and
should be treated as part of IUPAC nomenclature
neo
Example of IUPAC name

Base name – oct- Longest chain has 8 carbons

Suffix – ane – only single bond present
Number – start from left as function group
halid gets lower number
Prefix – all function group are in prefix
and in alphabetical order
-COOH is a principal functional group and gets
priority over keton and amine which are treated as
substituent

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