In the IUPAC system, the name of an alcohol is derived from the corresponding alkane by replacing ‘e’ with ‘ol’. Substituent positions are indicated using numerals, starting from the end nearest to the hydroxyl group.
What is the IUPAC system’s approach to naming alcohols, and how are substituent positions indicated?
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In the IUPAC system, alcohols are named by identifying the longest continuous carbon chain containing the hydroxyl (-OH) group, which becomes the parent chain. The parent chain’s name is derived from the corresponding alkane by changing the “-ane” ending to “-anol.” Substituent positions are indicated by assigning the lowest possible number to the carbon atom bearing the hydroxyl group. If there are multiple substituents, their locations are specified using numerical prefixes. For example, in 3-methyl-1-butanol, the hydroxyl group is on the third carbon of a four-carbon chain, and there is a methyl group on the first carbon.