Question

The IUPAC name of $\beta - $ethoxy-$\alpha - $hydroxy propionic acid is:
A) 1, 2-dihydroxy – 1-oxo - 3-ethoxy propane
B) 1 - carboxy - 2 - ethoxy ethanol
C) 3 - Ethoxy - 2 - hydroxy propanoic acid
D) All of the above

Answer 1

Hint:
To answer this question, you should recall the concept of IUPAC nomenclature of IUPAC compounds. The IUPAC system rose to the necessity for a systematic approach due to the sheer quantity of discoveries of organic compounds which made the vernacular nomenclature of organic compounds highly inconvenient.

Complete step by step solution:
The IUPAC name of ethoxy hydroxy propionic acid is 3 - Ethoxy - 2 - hydroxy propanoic acid.
The parent compound is propanoic acid. A hydroxyl group is present in the second carbon atom and an ethoxy group is present at the third carbon atom. The structure can be represented as:

Hence, the correct option is option C.

Note:
A set of rules has been formulated by IUPAC for a systematic approach for the nomenclature of organic compounds which has been revised from time to time. Any IUPAC name of the given organic compound consists of three parts of the name which are: parent name, prefix and suffix. According to the Guidelines set by IUPAC, the nomenclature of compounds must follow these steps:
1) The Longest Chain Rule
2) The Lowest Set of Locants
3) Multiple instances of the same substituent
4) The naming of different substituents
5) Correct naming of different substituents in case they are present at the same positions
6) Naming Complex Substituents

For example: In the compound the parent hydrocarbon consists of a \[5{\text{ }}C\] chain with an intervening \[C = C\] bond between the second and third carbon atom. Thus, the base name is 2-pentene. The compound also consists of a \[Cl\] and an \[I\] atom on the second and third carbon atom respectively. The given compound shows geometrical isomerism and is displaying the trans isomer across the \[C = C\] bond. Thus, it can be named trans-2-chloro-3-iodo-2-pentene