The numbering system used for 3-dehydroquinate is that of the IUPAC/CBN recommendations on cyclitols, sections I-8 and I-9. The use of the term '5-dehydroquinate' for this compound is based on an earlier system of numbering (for example of use, see S. Mitsuhashi and B. D. Davis, Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 1954, 15, 268-280).