Nomenclature for Organic Chemical Transformations

Abstract

These rules provide a general system of nomenclature for transformations whereby one organic compound is converted into another. A transformation is distinct from a reaction in that it describes only those changes that are involved in converting the structure of a substrate into that of a product, regardless of the reagent or the precise nature of the substrate, or (with some exceptions) the mechanism. Thus all processes in which X—H is converted into X—NO2are examples of the single transformation called “nitration”, whatever the nature of X, and irrespective of whether the reaction entails the replacement of H+ by N02+, of H. by N02., or of H-by N02-. The basis of the names of all transformations is that they provide a description of the conversion of substrate into product by giving a string or strings of the names of groups or entities that become attached to and/or detached from the substrate, followed by a suffix that describes the nature of the transformation. Straightforward examples are self-explanatory; for example: “hydro, chloro-addition”; “dibromo-elimination”; “hydroxy-de-iodo-substitution”. For many transformations, particularly substitutions, simplified names are recommended for use in speech or writing (by contrast to the more detailed indexing names). Thus “hydroxy-de-iodination” may be used instead of “hydroxy-de-iodo-substitution”, or “nitration” instead of “nitro-de-hydro-substitution”. A list of non-systematic names is given for transformations that are too complex to be named by the present systematic rules. © 1989 IUPAC