Introductory IUPAC Organic Nomenclature

Amides

Nomenclature	Formula	3D structure
Functional class name = alkyl alkanamide Substituent suffix = -amide

• Amides are amine derivatives of carboxylic acids.
• The root name is based on the longest chain including the carbonyl group of the amide group.
  
• Since the amide group is at the end of the chain, the C=O carbon must be C1.
• The amide suffix is appended after the hydrocarbon suffix minus the "e" : e.g.  -ane + -amide = -anamide etc.
• If the amide nitrogen is substituted, the these substituents are given N- as the locant.
• The N- locant is listed first.
  

Functional group is an amide therefore suffix = -amide Hydrocarbon structure is an alkane therefore -an- The longest continuous chain is C4 therefore root = but butanamide	CH3CH2CH2C(=O)NH2
Functional group is an amide therefore suffix = -amide Hydrocarbon structure is an alkane therefore -ane The longest continuous chain is C4 therefore root = but The nitrogen substituent is C1 i.e. an N-methyl group N-methylbutanamide	CH3CH2CH2C(=O)N(CH3)H
Functional group is an amide therefore suffix = -amide Hydrocarbon structure is an alkane therefore -ane The longest continuous chain is C2 therefore root = eth The two nitrogen substituents are C1 i.e. an N-methyl group There are two methyl groups, therefore multiplier = di- N,N-dimethylethanamide	CH3C(=O)N(CH3)2

©Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry