[iScience]

http://i.imgur.com/pLsKEy1.png

I thought this was  4-tert-butyl-3-methylheptane but a site is telling me that this is wrong. please explain to me why this is not that

[iScience]

http://i.imgur.com/fZIMI1v.jpg

So, why is this "4-sec-butyl-6-isopropyl-5-neopentylnonane" instead of "6-sec-butyl-4-isopropyl-5-neopentylnonane"?

i thought one of the rules was to assign the lower number to the one that is earlier in the alphabet, and since "sec" and "tert" are not alphabetized in nomenclature, we don't worry about them.

(by the way, if sec and tert aren't alphabetized in nomenclature, do they always go in the front?)

[discodermolide]

That looks OK to me.

[discodermolide]

ChemDraw says it is
6-isopropyl-3-methyl-5-neopentyl-4-propylnonane

[orgopete]

They might be looking for a nested name, 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl), or something like that.

[Altered State]

http://i.imgur.com/fZIMI1v.jpg

So, why is this "4-sec-butyl-6-isopropyl-5-neopentylnonane" instead of "6-sec-butyl-4-isopropyl-5-neopentylnonane"?

i thought one of the rules was to assign the lower number to the one that is earlier in the alphabet, and since "sec" and "tert" are not alphabetized in nomenclature, we don't worry about them.

(by the way, if sec and tert aren't alphabetized in nomenclature, do they always go in the front?)

I think you are saying it yourself, if we don't count on "sec", butyl has preference over "iso" (B > I ) at its got to be asigned the lower number.
But it may be as disco says, its some way simpler

[Arkcon]

I hope you mind, Altered State: iScience:, that I merged your two posts with the same general topic, "Naming alkanes"  You'll learn better if you have all the questions and answers in one thread, and there will be less clutter in the Forum list.

[Altered State]

I hope you mind, Altered State:, that I merged your two posts with the same general topic, "Naming alkanes"  You'll learn better if you have all the questions and answers in one thread, and there will be less clutter in the Forum list.

I guess you mean iScience, not me :-D

[Arkcon]

I hope you mind, Altered State:, that I merged your two posts with the same general topic, "Naming alkanes"  You'll learn better if you have all the questions and answers in one thread, and there will be less clutter in the Forum list.

I guess you mean iScience, not me :-D

Gah.  Sorry.  I wasn't paying enough attention.