Question

What is the derived name of Neopentyl alcohol?
(A) Isopropyl carbinol
(B) n - Butyl carbinol
(C) Tertiary butyl carbinol
(D) Ethyl methyl carbinol

Answer 1

Hint: Neopentyl alcohol is a compound having chemical formula ${ C }_{ 5 }{ H }_{ 12 }{ O }$. It is an alcohol derivative of neopentane.
Neopentyl group: A hydrocarbon group which contains a quaternary carbon bonded to three methyl groups and one methylene group.

Complete answer step-by-step:
> Neopentyl alcohol is a compound having chemical formula ${ (CH }_{ 3 }{ ) }_{ 3 }{ C }{ CH }_{ 2 }{ OH }$
- The skeletal structure of Neopentyl group is;

- As it is an alcoholic derivative,so, its structure will be;

The IUPAC name of neopentyl alcohol is 2,2-dimethylpropan-1-ol.
> As we know that carbinol is a primary alcohol which has a molecular formula of ${ CH }_{ 3 }{ -OH }$. The term ‘carbinol’ also known as methanol in its nomenclature. There’s a carbinol group in neopentyl alcohol and a tertiary group is also present. Hence, the derived name of neopentyl alcohol is Tertiary butyl alcohol.

Additional Information: Carbinol is a primary alcohol. There’s a difference between carbinol and methanol.
- Methanol is the simplest aliphatic alcohol.
- It is a colorless, toxic, inflammable liquid which is used as a solvent.
- It is slightly soluble in water while soluble in ethers, alcohols and most organic solvents.
- It reacts with strong oxidants.
- It is used as a solvent for dyes, nitrocellulose and phenolics as well as in natural resins and gums.
- It is used as a chemical intermediate used in manufacturing surfactants, cleaning compounds and lubricant additives.
Note: The possibility for the mistake is that you can choose the option (a) and (b). It is not an iso group (all the carbons except one carbon forms a continuous chain) while it is a neo group (when all but two carbons form a continuous chain) and that’s why it is tertiary butyl carbinol.