Basic IUPAC Organic Nomenclature

Aromatic Systems (or arenes)

	Formula	3D structure
Benzene Benzene is an important structure. It's the most common aromatic hydrocarbon. Since benzene (and its relatives) have their own characteristic reactions, they are a functional group, often referrred to as arenes	C6H6

• In principle, all the substituents we have encountered can occur as substituents on benzene rings.
• One way to name these is to use the benzene as the root and add the approriate substituent prefix.

Hydrocarbon structure is benzene The substituent chain is C2 therefore = ethyl ethylbenzene	C6H5CH2CH3
Hydrocarbon structure is benzene The substituent is a bromine therefore = bromo bromobenzene	C6H5Br
Hydrocarbon structure is benzene The substituent is a C2 ether therefore = ethoxy ethoxybenzene	C6H5OCH2CH3
Hydrocarbon structure is benzene The substituent is a nitro group therefore = nitro nitrobenzene	C6H5NO2

©Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry