Can you give the IUPAC name for the following #(CH_3)_3C-OH#, #CH_3CH(OH)-CH_3#?

1 Answer
Aug 29, 2016

For #"tert-butyl alcohol"#, and #"isopropyl alcohol?"#

Explanation:

For #"tert-butyl alcohol"#, #(H_3C)_3C-OH#, clearly the longest chain is three carbons long, and #C2# is substituted by #-OH#, and #CH_3#. So this is a propanol derivative:

#"2-methylpropan-2-ol"#

For #"isopropyl alcohol"#, #H_3C-CH(OH)CH_3#, the longest chain is again three carbons long, and #C2# is substituted by #-OH#, so

#"propan-2-ol"#

I think this is right, and I haven't broken any arcane rule. Both names seem to be unambiguous.