Name the following compounds: |

The names of these compounds are:

a) 4,4-dimethylhexanoic acid and,

b) Propyl heptanoate

Lets discuss how we name these compounds. The very first step is the identification of the functional group in any given compound. In the case of compound (a), the functional group -COO- is the carboxyl group and hence it is a carboxylic acid. For the naming of carboxylic acids, all the carbons including the carbon in the functional group is counted and...

The names of these compounds are:

a) 4,4-dimethylhexanoic acid and,

b) Propyl heptanoate

Lets discuss how we name these compounds. The very first step is the identification of the functional group in any given compound. In the case of compound (a), the functional group -COO- is the carboxyl group and hence it is a carboxylic acid. For the naming of carboxylic acids, all the carbons including the carbon in the functional group is counted and a suffix of "-oic acid" is used. Here, we can see that two methyl (-CH3) groups are attached to the carboxylic acid at carbon number 4 (counting from the carboxyl group) and hence the use of 4,4-dimethyl. There are 6 carbon atoms on the main chain, and hence the name hexanoic acid. Together, the compound is named 4,4-dimethylhexanoic acid. 

For compound (b), one can easily identify that the form of the compound is R-COO-R', which is the form of esters. These compounds are formed by the reaction between a carboxylic acid and an alcohol. The compounds are named by placing the name of the alkyl group (propyl, in this case) further away from the carbonyl group first and then the name of alkane group on the side of carbonyl group (including the carbonyl group). The alkane group's name is augmented with "-oate". And hence the name of compound (b) is propyl heptanoate. 

Hope this helps.