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1. STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTIC
OF ETHERS NONMENCLATURE
FOR ETHERS

2. What the Ethers?
 Ethers are a class of organic compounds that
contain an ether group— an oxygen atom
connected to two alkyl or aryl groups.
 They have the general formula R–O–R′ , where R
and R′ represent the alkyl or aryl groups.

3. Water derivatives
 Alcohols, phenols and ethers are classes of organic
compounds which are much closer to water in
structure and hence considered as derivatives of
water.
 In ether both hydrogens of water are replaced by
alkyl or phenyl groups.

4. Classification
Ethers are classified into two categories:
 Simple or symmetrical ethers, which contain two
same alkyl groups e.g. dimethyl ether CH3OCH3
and diethyl ether CH3— CH2— O — CH2 — CH3 .
 Mixed or unsymmetrical ethers, which contain
different alkyl or phenyl groups, e.g., ethyl methyl
ether CH3— O — CH2 — CH3 .

5. Nomenclature
Ethers are named either by
 I.U.P.A.C. system
 common names

6. I.U.P.A.C. system
• In I.U.P.A.C. system the large alkyl ( R ) group is
taken as parent molecule and given the last name
(suffix) while the smaller alkyl group along with
oxygen is used as prefix and given the name alkoxy
(e.g.methoxy, ethoxy, propoxy, etc)

7. Common Names
• The most common way is to identify the alkyl groups
on either side of the oxygen atom in alphabetical
order, then write “ether”.
• For example, ethyl methyl ether is the ether that has
an ethyl group and a methyl group on either side of
the oxygen atom.
• If the two alkyl groups are identical, the ether is
called di[alkyl] ether. For example, diethyl ether is the
ether with an ethyl group on each side of the oxygen
atom.

8. Nomenclature
 I. U.P. A. C. names are not common as they are
difficult. Usually ethers are known by their common
names, as given below;
Formula Common Names I.U.P.A.C
CH3OCH3 Dimethyl ether Methoxy methane
CH3OC2H5 Methyl ethylether Methoxy ethane
C2H5OC2H5 Diethyl ether Ethoxy ethane
C2H5O CH2 — CH2 — CH3 Ethyl n-propylether Ethoxy propane
CH3OC6H5 Methyl phenyl ether Methoxy benzene

9. Preparation of Ethers
Ethers are prepared from alcohols either directly or
indirectly. Usually they are obtained by the following
methods.
1. Williamsons synthesis
2. Alkyl halides are heated with dry silver oxide to
form ethers
3. Bimolecular dehydration

10. 1. Williamsons synthesis
The most versatile method for making ethers is the
Williamson ether synthesis, named for English chemist
Alexander Williamson, who devised the method in the 19th
century.
Alcohols are reacted with metallic sodium to form
alkoxides. This alkoxide ion is a strong nucleophile and
readily reacts with alkyl halide to produce an ether

11. 2. Alkyl halides are heated with dry silver oxide to form
ethers
Alkyl halides are heated with dry silver oxide to form ethers

12. 3. BIMOLECULAR DEHYDRATION
• In the presence of acid, two molecules of an alcohol may lose water
to form an ether.
• Bimolecular dehydration produces useful yields of ethers only with
simple, primary alkyl groups such as those in dimethyl ether and
diethyl ether. Dehydration is used commercially to produce diethyl
ether.
• Examples: