Introduction

The downright indifference or even aversion of many chemists to appelation problems of their science is to some degree understandable since there are simply too many divergent and inhomogeneous nomenclature systems to choose from. Moreover, the same naming principles are frequently applied quite differently by different chemical journals, textbooks and handbooks. Meanwhile, however, consensus has been reached to use, wherever possible, an internationally binding uniform nomenclature system that nevertheless tolerates certain alternatives. It has therefore become necessary for every chemist — whether student or professionally active — to acquire at least an elementary working knowledge of this system. This is all the more urgent since indexing by the globally active Chemical Abstracts Service (Chem. Abstr.) and by Beilsteins Handbook of Organic Chemistry is generally based on the IUPAC nomenclature rules, even though certain deviations or extrapolations therefrom are often employed. This will be taken into account where appropriate.