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The suffix -ene is used in organic chemistry to form names of organic compounds where the -C=C- group has been attributed the highest priority according to the rules of organic nomenclature.[1] Sometimes a number between hyphens is inserted before it to say that the double bond is between that atom and the atom with the next number up. This suffix is taken from the end of the word ethylene, which is the simplest alkene.[2] The final “-e” disappears if it is followed by a suffix that starts with a vowel, e.g. “-enal” which is a compound that contains both a -C=C- bond and an aldehyde functional group. If the other suffix starts with a consonant or “y”, the final “-e” remains, e.g. “-enediyne” (which has the “-ene” suffix and also the “-yne” suffix, for a compound with a double bond and two triple bonds.)

A Greek number prefix before the “-ene” indicates how many double bonds there are in the compound, e.g. butadiene.

Stereochemistry

Since alkenes containing two different groups on each side of the -C=C- double bond can exhibit geometric isomerism, alkenes often contain the prefixes “cis-” and “trans-,” or more formally, “(E)-” and “(Z)-.”[3]

Inorganic Chemistry

The suffix “-ene” is also used in inorganic chemistry to indicate a one-atom thick two-dimensional layer of atoms—known as a “Xene”—as in graphene, silicene, stanene, borophene, and germanene.[4] Additionally, the suffixis used for MXenes due to their similarity to graphene.[5]

References

  1. ^ The Commission on the Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry (1971) [1958]. Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry (A: Hydrocarbons, and B: Fundamental Heterocyclic Systems), 1965 (C: Characteristic Groups) (3 ed.). London: Butterworths. ISBN 0-408-70144-7.
  2. ^ “Acetylene (and Hydrocarbon Suffixes)”. chemtymology.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  3. ^ “Alkenes: Structure and Nomenclature” (PDF). colapret.cm.utexas.edu. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
  4. ^ Xie, Zhongjian; Meng, Xiangying; Li, Xiangnan; Liang, Weiyuan; Huang, Weichun; Chen, Keqiang; Chen, Jianming; Xing, Chenyang; et al. (15 June 2020). “Two-Dimensional Borophene: Properties, Fabrication, and Promising Applications”. Research. 2020 2624617. doi:10.34133/2020/2624617. PMC 7312787. PMID 32607497. Retrieved 6 June 2026.
  5. ^ Salim, O.; Mahmoud, K.A.; Pant, K.K.; Joshi, R.K. (December 2019). “Introduction to MXenes: synthesis and characteristics”. Materials Today Chemistry. 14. doi:10.1016/j.mtchem.2019.08.010. Retrieved 7 June 2026.

See also