Question

IUPAC name of the compound \[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{CH3 - CH - OCH3}\\
\phantom{}|\phantom{....}\\
\phantom{}\ce{CH3}\phantom{..}
\end{array}\] is ______.

Options

• 1-methoxy-1-methylethane

• 2-methoxy-2-methylethane

• 2-methoxypropane

• isopropylmethyl ether

Answer 1

IUPAC name of the compound \[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{CH3 - CH - OCH3}\\
\phantom{}|\phantom{....}\\
\phantom{}\ce{CH3}\phantom{..}
\end{array}\] is 2-methoxypropane.

Explanation:

Given molecule: \[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{CH3 - CH - OCH3}\\
\phantom{}|\phantom{....}\\
\phantom{}\ce{CH3}\phantom{..}
\end{array}\] 

It is an ether ROR′. In naming ether, a smaller alkyl group among R and R' is treated as a side group as alkoxy and the other as alkane along with the position of the alkoxy group. Thus in the given molecule, it is the methoxy group at the second position of propane (alkane).

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{\overset{1}{C}H3-\overset{2}{C}H-OCH3}\\
\phantom{}|\phantom{....}\\
\phantom{}\ce{\overset{3}{C}H3}\phantom{..}
\end{array}\] 

Thus its name is 2-methoxypropane.