How to Write the Structural Formula of Tertiary Alcohols?

Question

How do you write the structural formula for tertiary alcohols? Since there is a third alkyl group attached to the carbon which the OH group is attached to, I was wondering how this was expressed in the structural formula.

For example, what would the structural formula of 2-methylbutan-2-ol be?

.................CH(3)
....................|
CH(3)CH(2)---C---CH(3)
....................|
..................OH

Thanks.

Answer 1

Your structure is correct for a tertiary alcohol. Your naming is acceptable. Not sure I would name it that way, but I don't know what naming convention you are being taught. It is, however a proper IUPAC name, and so is the name I would use, which is 2-Methyl-2-butanol.



Not human

Answer 2

The longest chain you can find is four carbons. That makes it a butane root.



Tertiary alcohols mean the carbon atom the oxygen is attached to has three other carbons attached to it. A secondary alcohol has two other carbons and a hydrogen attached to the carbon that has the oxygen.



Your alcohol and the methyl group that is not part of the longest chain is on the second carbon atom.



Your structure is correct for a tertiary alcohol. Your naming is acceptable. Not sure I would name it that way, but I don't know what naming convention you are being taught. It is, however a proper IUPAC name, and so is the name I would use, which is 2-Methyl-2-butanol.

Answer 3

Looks right to me. You have to remember that any chemical called "primary", "secondary" or "tertiary" really relates to the central carbon of the chemical being a primary, secondary or tertiary carbon.

A primary carbon is attached to 1 other carbon/alkyl group

A secondary -- attached to 2 C

A tertiary -- attached to 3 C

Hence, a tertiary alcohol is a compound, where the central carbon has 3 alkyl groups and an OH-, to make 4 bonds.



Hope this helps!