Carboxylic Esters, RCO₂R

1. The name of the parent carboxylic acid (alkanoic) is changed to alkanoate and is preceded, as in a separate word, by the name of the ester alkyl group RR:

2. When appropriate, esters also are named as carboxylates:

3. When it is necessary to name the −CO2R function as a substituent, it becomes alkoxycarbonyl, . (Notice that this is structurally different from RCOO-.)

Notice the use of parentheses to separate the numbering of C3 of the cyclohexane ring from the numbering of the chain.

4. It also may be necessary at times to name the R CO2− group as a substituent, in which case it becomes acyloxy- or R1R2-carbonyloxy-. For example,