How many identical chain-terminating groups (like or ) must be directly attached to an unbranched pa — IUPAC and Nomenclature Chemistry Question
Question
How many identical chain-terminating groups (like $-COOH$ or $-CN$) must be directly attached to an unbranched parent chain to invoke the use of special suffixes (like tricarboxylic acid) where all such groups are excluded from the main chain counting?
Answer: 3
💡 Solution & Explanation
The IUPAC rule specifically states that if "more than two" (i.e., $\ge 3$) similar terminal groups are directly attached to the principal chain, then none of them forms a part of the principal chain, and special suffixes are used.
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