Basic IUPAC Organic Nomenclature

Phenyl or benzyl?

• Phenyl and benzyl are not the same and can not be used interchangeably.
  
• Take care not to confuse terminology :
  
•  benzyl substituent = C₆H₅CH₂
•  phenyl substituent = C₆H₅
• Here are some examples:

phenyl bromide	C6H5Br
benzyl bromide	C6H5CH2Br
ethyl phenyl ether	C6H5OCH2CH3
benzyl methyl ether	C6H5CH2OCH3

©Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry