Organic: The Principal Group

Abstract

For nomenclature, molecules are divided into a parent and substituents. The parent may be a chain or a cyclic system. The substituents can be divided into those that can, according to the rules, be named as suffix (see list A in Table 4) and those that must be named as prefix (see list B in Table 4). If any group at all is present that can be named as suffix, then there must be a suffix in the name. If several different kinds of group are present that could be named as suffix, then one kind is chosen according to specific preferences. These preferences are expressed in the order in which the groups are cited in list A of Table 4, the first cited group N^IV being the most preferred. The group so chosen as suffix is called the principal group.