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NCERT Exemplar · Q19

Q.What should be the correct IUPAC name for diethylbromomethane?

(i) 1-Bromo-1,1-diethylmethane
(ii) 3-Bromopentane
(iii) 1-Bromo-1-ethylpropane
(iv) 1-Bromopentane
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The common name "diethylbromomethane" describes a central carbon (methane) with two ethyl groups and one bromine. The longest continuous carbon chain is five carbons, so the correct IUPAC name is 3-bromopentane, which corresponds to option (ii).

The key here is to not get trapped by the common name. "Diethylbromomethane" sounds like a methane derivative, but the molecule actually has a five-carbon backbone. Let's see why.

Structural Isomerism and Naming Logic

Common names often hide the true carbon skeleton. "Methane" in the name tells you the central carbon is the one bearing the substituents. Here, that central carbon has two ethyl groups (−CH2CH3-CH_2CH_3) and one bromine (−Br-Br) attached. The fourth bond on that carbon is a hydrogen (since methane is CH4CH_4). So the structure is:

    Br
    |
CH3-CH2-C-CH2-CH3
    |
    H

Now, for IUPAC naming, we must find the longest continuous carbon chain. That chain is not just the "methane" carbon — it runs through both ethyl groups, giving a five-carbon chain.

  1. Draw the structure from the common name.

    The parent is "methane" (one carbon). Two ethyl groups (C2H5C_2H_5) and one bromine replace three hydrogens. So the central carbon (call it C1) is bonded to:

    • CH3CH2−CH_3CH_2- (ethyl)
    • CH3CH2−CH_3CH_2- (another ethyl)
    • BrBr
    • HH

    This gives: CH3CH2−CH(Br)−CH2CH3CH_3CH_2-CH(Br)-CH_2CH_3.

  2. Identify the longest carbon chain.

    Count the carbons in a straight line. Starting from the left ethyl group: CH3−CH2−CH_3-CH_2-, then the central carbon, then the right ethyl group: −CH2−CH3-CH_2-CH_3. That's five carbons in a row. So the parent alkane is pentane.

  3. Number the chain to give the substituent the lowest locant.

    The bromine is attached to the third carbon (if you number from either end, it's carbon 3). So the name is 3-bromopentane.

  4. Check the options. …

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