Esters

Structure

Common Name

IUPAC name

Ethyl acetate

Ethyl ethanoate

Methyl benzoate

Methyl benzoate

Isopropyl butyrate

Isopropyl butanoate

Esters are combinations of acids and alcohols.  To name esters, the first word in the name of the ester is the alcohol alkyl name (methyl from methyl alcohol [methanol]; isopropyl from isopropyl alcohol [2-propanol]).  The second word in the name of an ester is derived from the anion of the acid (acetate from acetic acid; ethanoate from ethanoic acid).  For example, an ester derived from ethanol (ethyl alcohol) and acetic acid (acetate anion) is Ethyl acetate.