Nomenclature of Cycloalkanes

Ma. Brigitta II R. Mendoza, R.Ch. July 2, 2012 CHM 2 2Y1-5

Cycloalkanes
Alkanes with their carbon atoms arranged in a ring A cycloalkane has two fewer hydrogens than an acyclic (noncyclic) alkane with the same number of carbons

Cycloalkanes
General molecular formula: CnH2n Naming: cyclo + alkane name

Skeletal Structures

Cycloalkanes are always written as SKELETAL STRUCTURES.

Skeletal Structures

Acyclic molecules can also be represented by skeletal structures.

Rules for Naming Cycloalkanes

1.

For cycloalkanes with an attached alkyl substituent, the ring is the parent hydrocarbon unless the substituent has more carbon atoms than the ring. In that case, the substituent is the parent hydrocarbon and the ring is named as the substituent. If there is only one substituent in the ring, do not give that substituent a number.

Rules for Naming Cycloalkanes

Rules for Naming Cycloalkanes

2.

If the ring has two different substituents, they are cited in ALPHABETICAL ORDER and the number one position is given to the substituent cited first.

Rules for Naming Cycloalkanes

Rules for Naming Cycloalkanes

3.

If there are more than two substituents on the ring, they are cited in ALPHABETICAL ORDER. The substituent given the number one position is the one that results in a second substituent getting as low a number as possible. If the two substituents have the same low number, the ring is numbered either clockwise or counterclockwise in the direction that gives the third substituent the lowest possible number.

Rules for Naming Cycloalkanes