Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry: IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013, IUPAC Blue book, prepared for publication by Henri A Favre and Warren H Powell, by RSC Publishing, 2014 [ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4]; https://doi.org/10.1039/9781849733069
Online release
HTML and PDF version prepared by G. P. Moss, includes a PDF for each chapter and combined PDF of the whole book; See Version 3, posted on 6 Dec 2023: https://iupac.qmul.ac.uk/BlueBook/PDF/
An earlier HTML production of the IUPAC Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry has been prepared by Advanced Chemistry Development, Inc and is searchable on the ACD/Labs website <https://www.acdlabs.com/iupac/nomenclature>.
The rules given in the Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry, commonly known as the “Blue Book”, emphasize the generation of unambiguous names in accord with the historical development of the subject, because the need for a “unique” name was not perceived to be compelling by earlier generations of chemists. The so-called information explosion of recent decades is a major factor in changing this perception. The present matrix of rules, however, cannot easily be overlaid with a simple set of principles for selecting a preferred name among the systematic alternatives, and to declare a preference by arbitrary fiat in each situation would surely lead to widespread rejection. Therefore, IUPAC has initiated projects to formulate a comprehensive guide for selecting unique names that will, insofar as feasible, have good recognition value and general acceptance among chemists. Further projects, with longer-range objectives of systematizing nomenclature of organic compounds, are also under way.
Concise Summary
A Brief Guide to the Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry has been first published in PAC 92(3), pp. 527-539 (AOP 24 Feb 2020). An update has been released in June 2021; see related project here for update and translations.
Misc links
Originating project 2001-043-1-800 | RSC shop