Return to Contents
Basic IUPAC Organic Nomenclature

E- and Z-nomenclature of alkenes

On the previous pages, we looked at naming alkenes as cis- and trans-.

Misconception Alert!

cis ¹ Z and trans ¹ E

In general terms there is NO specific relationship between cis and trans / E and Z as they are based on fundamentally different naming rules.

It is important to note that the two methods are different (i.e. they are based on different rules) and they are NOT interchangeable, see below for an example.
The cis- / trans- style is based on the longest chain whereas the E/Z style is based on a set of priority rules. 
You need to know both styles.

2-butene
2-chloro-2-butene
cis-but-2-ene
or
(Z)-but-2-ene

cis-2-chlorobut-2-ene
or
(E)-2-chlorobut-2-ene

The E- and Z- style is more reliable and particularly suited to tri- or tetra-substituted alkenes, and especially when the substituents are not alkyl groups.

The Cahn-Ingold-Prelog priority rules are used for naming geometric isomers (e.g. E- or Z-alkenes) and other stereoisomers (see later).

These rules are based on atomic number, and the first point of difference.

Example: but-2-ene
split the alkene
priorities
relative positions
Step 1 : split the alkene
Step 2 : assign the relative priorities.
The two attached atoms are C and H, so since the atomic numbers C > H then the -CH3 group is higher priority.
Step 3 : look at the relative positions of the higher priority groups : same side = Z, hence (Z)-but-2-ene.
E/Z-example

The two attached atoms are C and H, so since the atomic numbers C > H then the -CH3 group is higher priority. Therefore the two high priority groups are on the opposite side, then this is (E)-but-2-ene.

Subrules:



organic chemistry ©Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry University of Calgary