Basic IUPAC Organic Nomenclature

Esters

Nomenclature	Formula	3D structure
Functional class name = alkyl alkanoate Substituent suffix = -oate

• Esters are alkyl derivatives of carboxylic acids.
• The easiest way to deal with naming esters is to recognise the carboxylic acid and the alcohol that they can be prepared from.
  
• The general ester, RCO₂R' can be derived from the carboxylic acid RCO₂H and the alcohol HOR'
  
• The first component of an ester name, the alkyl is derived from the alcohol, R'OH.
• The second component of an ester name, the -oate is derived from the carboxylic acid, RCO₂H.
• Alcohol component
• the root name is based on the longest chain containing the -OH group.
• The chain is numbered so as to give the -OH the lowest possible number.
• Carboxylic acid component
• the root name is based on the longest chain including the carbonyl group.
• Since the carboxylic acid group is at the end of the chain, it must be C1.
• The ester suffix for the acid component is appended after the hydrocarbon suffix minus the "e" : e.g.  -ane + -oate = -anoate etc.
• The complete ester name is the alkyl alkanoate

© Dr. Ian Hunt, 2005, Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary