IUPAC Nomenclature of nitro alkanes

No. of C-Atoms	Molecular formula	Parent alkane	Common name	IUPAC name
1	CH3CH2NO2	Methane	Nitromethane	Nitromethane
2	CH3CH2NO2	Ethane	Nitroethane	Nitroethane
3	CH3CH2CH2NO2	Propane	n-Nitropropane	1-Nitropropane
3		Propane	Iso-Nitropropane	2-Nitropropane

 

Nitro compounds are named as the nitro derivatives of the parent alkane in both the systems of nomenclature. This is done by adding the prefix nitro to the word root of the parent alkane.

Alkyl nitrites

General formula:

R-O-N=O

Functional group:

-O-N=O

Alkyl nitrites are named by adding the suffix nitrite to the alkyl group. For example

CH₃-O-N=O is Methyl nitrite.

C₂H₅-O-N=O is Ethyl nitrite.

Nitro compounds are named by using the prefix nitro before the name of parent hydrocarbon. Aliphatic nitro compounds are called nitroalkanes while aromatic nitro compounds are called nitroarenes.

The position of nitro group and other substituents if any are indicated by arabic numerals.

Examples:

CH₃ NO₂ - Nitromethane

CH₃ CH₂ NO₂ - Nitroethane