Cycloalkanes

Parent
Chain
Propane

Cyclopropane

cyclopropyl
Parent
Chain

Butane

Cyclobutane

Cyclobutyl
Parent
Chain

Pentane

Cyclopentane

Cyclopentyl

Parent
Chain
Hexane

Cyclohexane

Cyclohexyl
Parent
Chain

Heptane

Cycloheptane

Cycloheptyl

Parent
Chain
Octane

Cyclooctane

Cyclooctyl

Parent
Chain
Nonane

Cyclononane

Cyclononyl

Parent
Chain
Decane

Cyclodecane

Cyclodecyl

Naming Cycloalkanes
1.
a.
b

General Formula: CnH(2n)

Parent Chain
Use the cycloalkane as the parent chain if it has a greater number of carbons than any alkyl
substituent.
If an alkyl chain off the cycloalkane has a greater number of carbons, then use the alkyl chain as
the parent and the cycloalkane as a cycloalkyl- substituent.
CH3

Methylcyclopentane

2.
a

Numbering the Cycloalkane

When numbering the carbons of a cycloalkane, start with a substituted carbon so that the
substituted carbons have the lowest numbers (sum).

CH3
1

5
4

3 CH3

CH3
1
CH3
2

5 CH3
4
-not1,5-Dimethylcyclohexane
CH3
5

CH3
3

1
CH3

CH3
1,2,4-Trimethylcyclohexane
(1 + 2 + 4 = 7)

-not1,3,4-Trimethylcyclohexane
(1 +3 + 4 = 8)

When two or more different substituents are present, number according to alphabetical order.
2

1-Ethyl-2-methylcyclohexane

3.

CH3
1

1,3-Dimethylcyclohexane

b.

2-Cyclopropylbutane

-not2-Ethyl-1-methylcyclohexane

Halogen Substituents
Halogen substituents are treated exactly like alkyl groups:
-F
fluoro-Cl
chloro-Br
bromo-I
iodoCH3
1-Chloro-2-methylcyclobutane
Cl