MCAT Organic Chemistry Review 2018-2019

propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, and valeraldehyde. When aldehydes are named as substituents,
use the prefix oxo–.

Figure 6.1. Naming  Aldehydes

MCAT EXPERTISE

Notice  that    these   common  names   have    a   pattern that    can help    us: form–   will    also    be  seen    in

formic  acid    (a  one-carbon  carboxylic  acid),  and acet–   is  seen    in  many    two-carbon

compounds   (acetylene, acetic  acid,   and acetyl-CoA).

If the aldehyde is attached to a ring, the suffix –carbaldehyde is used instead. This is shown in Figure
6.2.

Figure 6.2. Naming  Cyclic  Aldehydes

Ketones are named by replacing the –e with the suffix –one. When naming ketones by their
common names, the two alkyl groups are named alphabetically, followed by –ketone. When