Nomenclature of Amides

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Primary amides

Primary amides are named by changing the name of the acid by dropping the -oic acid or -ic acid endings and adding -amide. The carbonyl carbon is given the #1 location number. It is not necessary to include the location number in the name because it is assumed that the functional group will be on the end of the parent chain.

methanamide or formamide (left), ethanamide or acetamide (center) , benzamide (right)

Exercise

Draw a structure for the following compound: 3-chlorobenzamide.

Solution

Exercise

Try to name the following compound:

Solution

pentamide

Secondary Amides

Secondary amides are named by using an upper case N to designate that the alkyl group is on the nitrogen atom. Alkyl groups attached to the nitrogen are named as substituents. The letter N is used to indicate they are attached to the nitrogen.