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Ethers are the groups of organic compounds of the form ROR or ROR’. An ether group is made up of an oxygen atom which is connected to two alkyl groups. The general formula of ethers is R-O-R’. Here R represents the alkyl group.
Ethers are classified into two groups – simple ethers and mixed ethers. Simple ethers are of the form ROR; the alkyl groups attached to the oxygen atom are the same. Mixed ethers are the ethers in which the alkyl groups attached to the oxygen atom are different. In mixed ethers, the alkyl group, which contains a larger carbon chain, is considered the parent alkane. Ethers are the common link between carbohydrates and lignin and thus, have a special place in chemistry. The uses of ether are of vital importance in the chemical industries.
Examples of Ethers
There are many examples of ethers. Some of them are:
Dimethyl ether
Dimethyl ether is one of the excellent ether examples. It is also written as
CH3 – O – CH3 .
It is a synthetically produced ether and is a colourless gas under normal conditions. The engines it is used are specially designed and need a special kind of kit to operate. It has great energy efficiency and is thus of significant usage in many other industries too. Dimethyl ether is considered an isomer of ethanol and is an environmentally friendly fuel that can be produced using the lignocellulosic biomass.
It is largely used for the production of the methylating agent dimethyl sulphate.
CH3OCH3 + SO3 → (CH3)2SO4
Dimethyl ether is also used as a laboratory reagent and solvent, usually at a low temperature.
By using the carbonylation technology, the dimethyl ether can be converted into acetic acid.
(CH3)2O + 2 CO + H2O → 2 CH3CO2H
It is an exception in the family of alkyl ethers in the case of resistance to autoxidation.
Diphenyl ether
It is an organic compound that is a colourless solid with a chemical formula (C6H5)2O.
It is formed by the reaction of bromobenzene and phenol in the presence of a base and an amount of copper that is catalytic.
PhONa + PhBr → PhOPh + NaBr
One of the most important features of the diphenyl ether is that it forms a mixture with biphenyl which is used as a heat transfer fluid. This is one of the important uses of ether. Its liquid state has a great temperature range and is thus widely used in laboratories for chemical experiments. This eutectic mixture formed has 73.5 % diphenyl ether and 26.5 % biphenyl.
It is an initial product in the formation of Phenoxyethanol. This is carried out with the help of Ferrario reaction. The Phenoxathiin produced is used in the production of polyimide and polyamide.
Diphenyl ether is largely used in soap perfumes and in the production of polyesters.
It is a colourless liquid with a flower-like fragrance. It is found in the crystallised form under temperatures of 800F (270C).
Diisopropyl ether
It is a secondary ether that is used as a solvent in the chemical industries and chemical laboratories. It is highly miscible in organic solvents but is hardly soluble in water.
While talking about the uses of ether, diisopropyl ether comes on the top. It is used as an oxygenate gasoline additive.
Diisopropyl ether is chiefly obtained as a byproduct in the hydration reaction of propylene.
It is a special solvent that is basically used to extract polar organic compounds from aqueous solutions. It is also used in many experiments as an anti-knock agent.
It is necessary to take precautions while working with it. This is because it can form explosive peroxides if it is exposed to air for long hours. The use of antioxidants can be made to prevent it from happening. If you want to remove the peroxides, you can simply shake the ether with an aqueous solution of sodium metabisulphite or iron (II) sulphate.
Conclusion
So, through this article, we learned the uses of ether. Ethers are excellent solvents and help in the production of various other chemical products. They are used in the chemical industries for many things and are chiefly used in chemical laboratories for experiments.
They are used as refrigerants and solvents when at low temperatures. They can be used as motor fuels along with petrol. They can also act as heat transfer mediums as they have a high boiling point.
