Naming with bis-

[Hailey Boehm 2H]

In my discussion we discussed the name of the compound [Pt(NH2CH2CH2NH2)2Cl2]Cl2. The name is dichlorobisethylenediamineplatinum(IV)chloride. why exactly is the prefix bis- needed? is it because of the name of the ligand ethylene diamine also has a prefix in it?

[Sydney Stump]

Yes, it is because en includes the prefix di- already.

[Ramsha Dis1B]

Yeah, you would write bis- because there is already a di- in the ligand itself, just like Sydney said. My TA also extended on the reason we have to do that. Writing bis- allows you to know that there is two ethylenediamines rather than two ethylens with two amines because that is not the case since for one ethylene there are two amines.

[Carissa Young 1K]

what were the other names we had to remember besides bis when the other prefixes are already used in the name?

[Jeannine 1I]

what were the other names we had to remember besides bis when the other prefixes are already used in the name?

We need to remember to use:

bis- instead of di-
tris- instead of tri-
tetrakis- instead of tetra-
pentakis- instead of penta-

We use those names when the ligand already has di-, tri-, or tetra- in its formula, or if the ligand is a polydentate ligand.

[Lydia Luong 4L]

Yes, you need to write bis- because the ligand includes a di-.