CYCLOALKANES
Starting with propane in the alkane series, it is possible to get a ring form by
attaching the two chain ends. This reduces the number of hydrogens by two.
TIP
Cycloalkanes form single-bonded ring compounds.This hydrocarbon is called cyclopropane.
Cycloalkanes are named by adding the prefix cyclo- to the name of the
straight-chain alkane with the same number of hydrocarbons, as shown above.
When there is only one alkyl group attached to the ring, no position number
is necessary. When there is more than one alkyl group attached to the ring, the
carbon atoms in the ring are numbered to give the lowest numbers possible to the
alkyl groups. This means that one of the alkyl groups will always be in position 1.
The general formula is CnH 2 n.
Here is an example:If there are two or more alkyl groups attached to the ring, number the carbon
atoms in the ring. Assign position number one to the alkyl group that comes first in