How do we name (HO)H_2C-CH(CH_3)CH(OH)CH_2CH(CH_3)CH_3(HO)H2CCH(CH3)CH(OH)CH2CH(CH3)CH3 unambiguously?

1 Answer
Feb 12, 2016

2,5-"dimethylhexane"-1,3-"diol"2,5dimethylhexane1,3diol

(HO)H_2stackrel1Cstackrel2CH(CH_3)stackrel3CH(OH)CH_2stackrel5CH(CH_3)stackrel6CH_3(HO)H21C2CH(CH3)3CH(OH)CH25CH(CH3)6CH3

Explanation:

Clearly it's a diol derivative, with the longest chain 6 carbons long. We number FROM the primary alcohol:

2,5-"dimethylhexane"-1,3-"diol"2,5dimethylhexane1,3diol

I think this is unambiguous and correct, but I might have broken some arcane rule. There are THREE chiral centres in the molecule as given. Can you identify their positions?