How do you name alkenes using systematic names?

1 Answer
Ernest Z. · dwayne
Feb 4, 2014

You name alkenes as you do alkanes, but with the ending ene and giving the double bond the highest numbering priority.

Explanation:

  1. Find the longest continuous chain of carbon atoms that contains both carbons of the double bond.

  2. Give the lowest possible number to the #"C=C"# double bond.

  3. Add substituents and their positions to the name of the alkene as prefixes.

  4. Identify stereoisomers. It is always safest to use the Cahn-Ingold-Prélog E/Z notation.

EXAMPLE

Give a name for

img.guidechem.com

We have a six-carbon chain with a double bond between #"C-2"#and #"C-3"#, so this is a hexene. The base name becomes hex-2-ene.

The methyl group at #"C-5"# changes the name to 5-methylhex-2-ene.

Now we indicate stereochemistry.

The two higher-priority groups are the methyl group on #"C-2"# and the rest of the chain on #"C-3"#.

Since they are on opposite sides of the double bond, the configuration is E.

The full name for the compound is (E)-5-methylhex-2-ene.
(E)-5-methyl-2-hexene is an acceptable name, but the preferred name puts the numbers closest to the groups they locate.

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