Is 1-methylpropane a correct way of naming butane?

1 Answer
Mar 11, 2017

No, because it IS butane.


1-methylpropane says that:

  • Three carbons are in the main chain ("prop-").
  • One methyl group (#"H"_3"C"-#) is attached to carbon-1 ("1-methyl")

#color(white)(.....)"CH"_3#
#color(white)(a....)|#
#"H"-"C"-"CH"_2-"CH"_3#
#color(white)(a....)|#
#color(white)(aaa)"H"#

But that's the same as simply having four carbons in a row and bonding each of them with the appropriate number of hydrogen atoms.

#"H"_3"C"-"CH"_2-"CH"_2-"CH"_3#

Thus, they are not different isomers (whether they're constitutional, conformational, stereochemical, etc). They are identical compounds.