Branched Alkane

The general procedure to be followed in naming branched alkanes follows:

1. Find out the longest continuous chain (parent chain) which may or may not be shown
in a straight line, and name this chain.
2. Number the parent chain, starting at the end closer to the branch.
3. Identify the branch and its position.
4. Attach the number and the name of the branch to the name of the parent.

Example:
CH3


a. CH3-CH-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3 d. CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2

CH 3

e. CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH-CH3
CH3

 CH2-CH2-CH3
b. CH2-CH-CH2-CH2-CH3

CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3
 c. f. CH3-CH2-CH-CH2-CH2-CH3
CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3 
 CH2-CH2-CH3
CH3-CH2-CH-CH3

Multiple Branches

 If two or more branches are attached to a parent chain, more prefixes are added to the
parent name. The prefixes are placed alphabetically, each with its number indicating the
position of attachment to the parent.

 If two or more substituent on a parent are the same, use the prefixes di, tri, tetra, and so
on, to avoid having to name the alkyl group twice.

Other Prefix Substituent

Substituent Prefix name

-NO2 Nitro-
-F Fluoro-
-Cl Chloro-
-Br Bromo-
-I Iodo-
Examples:

a. CH3-CH-CH2-CH-CH2-CH3 g. CH3-CH2-CH-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3
  
NO2 CH2-CH-CH2-CH3 CH3-CH2-CH-CH2-CH2-CH3

I

b. CH3-CH-CH2-CH-CH2-CH2-CH3 I
  
CH3 CH3 h. CH3-CH2-C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3

CH3-CH2-C-CH3

c. CH3-CH2-CH2-CH-CH3

CH3-CH2-CH-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3
i. F

CH3-CH2-CH-CH-CH3
d. CH3-CH2-CH2-CH-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3 
 Cl
CH3-CH2-CH-CH2-CH-CH2-CH3

F
e. . CH3-CH2-CH-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3 j. NO2
 
CH3-CH2-C-CH2-CH-CH2-CH3 CH3-CH2-C-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3
  
Br F CH3-CH-CH3

CH3
 k. Br
f. CH3-CH2-C-CH2-CH-CH2-CH3 
  CH3-CH2-CH-CH2-CH2-CH-CH3
NO2 Cl 
Cl

Structural Formula Writing

Procedure:

1. Write the parent chain.

2. Attached the side chain/s on the parent name.

Example:

1. 2-methylpentane 6. 2,4-dimethylhexane

2. 2,3-dimethylheptane 7. 1,3,3-trifluoropentane

3. 2-chlorobutane 8. 4-chloro-3-methyl-
5nitrooctane

4. 4-ethyl-2,5-dimethyl nonane 9. 1,2,2,4-tetrabromohexane

 5. 3-bromo-4-methylhexane 10. 6-bromo-2-chloro-5-
methyl-2,7-
dinitrodecane