Return to Contents Chapter 15: Alcohols, Diols and Alkyl Thiols Ch 15 contents
Diols

Nomenclature:
Diols are named systematically as poly-alcohols, e.g. HOCH2CH2OH = 1,2-ethanediol, so the same nomenclature rules as for alcohols apply.
1,2-diols are often referred to as vicinal diols.
Functional group suffix = -diol (review)
Functional group prefix = dihydroxy-
 

ethanediol
1,2-propanediol
1,3-propanediol
cis-1,2-cyclohexanediol
ethylene glycol
propylene glycol
   

QUESTION
In cis-1,2-cyclohexanediol are the hydroxy groups axial or equatorial ? ANSWER

Physical Properties:

Structure: Reactivity:
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organic chemistry © Dr. Ian Hunt, Department of Chemistry University of Calgary