Source-based nomenclature for single-strand homopolymers and copolymers (IUPAC Recommendations 2016)

What is it about?

Structure-based nomenclature for substances, especially polymers, is completely systematic but the many rules make it a hard discipline to master. Source-based nomenclature, despite being less systematic, is still widely used by scientists. As a simple example compare the source-based name 'acetic acid', used by most scientists, versus the structure-based name 'ethanoic acid' coined by nomenclaturists. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) therefore seeks to continue its publications of a user-friendly alternative to the structure-based system for nomenclature, especially for polymers.

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Why is it important?

Polymer scientists are concerned mainly with polymer structures and properties rather than their systematic names., which are frequently so complex or esoteric that only nomenclature experts can generate and/or remember them. Communication problems therefore arise; for example there seems to little point in insisting that a certain substance be called 'poly(1-chloroethene)' when nearly all polymer scientists still refer to it as 'polyvinyl chloride' or 'PVC'. IUPAC therefore strives with this document to "speak to polymer scientists in their language" rather than to persist in dissemination of the rigorous and esoteric structure-based nomenclature perceived as arcane by polymer scientists.

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