Uses of Ether

If you substitute the H with an alkyl group in the –OH group of an alcohol.

CH3CH2-OH ⇒ CH3CH2-O-R

This compound is called ether.

Ether is an organic compound with two alkyl groups joined by an oxygen atom. The general formula of ether is

R−O−R′

Where R and R’ are alkyl or aryl.

Examples of Ethers:

Below we have given a few ethers examples.

1. CH3 – O –  CH3    (Dimethyl ether)

2. (CH3)2CH – OCH(CH3)2 (Diisopropyl ether)

3. Cyclic ethers such as

C6H5 – O – C6H5 (Diphenyl ether)

Preparation of Ether:

• The functional group of ether is C- O – C. The central atom oxygen is in sp3 hybridized state the two hall-filled sp3 orbitals from strong o (C-O) bonds with the half-filled sp3 orbitals of the two alkyl groups’ two carbon.

•  These are directed towards the four corners of a regular tetrahedron and make an angle of 109°28′ with one another.

•  The angle between the sp3 hybrid orbitals is 109°28′

•  Each sp3 hybrid orbital has 25% s and 75% p character.

• The remaining two filled sp3 orbitals remain free; i.e., they do not form bonds with any orbital. Here, the C-O-C bond angle is about 110°, which is close to the normal tetrahedral (109° 28′) and different from water (105°).

• This difference is because in ethers, the repulsion between lone pairs of electrons is counterbalanced by the repulsion between the bulky alkyl groups, with the result value near 109° 28′ is retained.

Geometrical Parts of Ether

• Ethers may be symmetrical or simple ( when both the alkyl groups are identical ) and asymmetrical or mixed ( when the two alkyl groups are different).

Example of Symmetrical ethers

CH3 – CH2 – O – CH2 – CH3 (Diethyl ether)

Example of Asymmetrical ethers

CH3 – O – CH2 – CH3 ( Ethyl methyl ether )

•  Ethers show functional isomerism ( with alcohols ) and metamerism.

•  Diethyl ether ( ethoxyethane ), commonly known as ether, is the most important example.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Ethers

Chemical Properties:

•  Ethers are flammable.

• Diethyl ether has a boiling point of 35o C and therefore is a flash-fire hazard.

• Ethers react slowly with oxygen from the air to form unstable hydroperoxide and peroxides, which present an explosion hazard.

R-O-O-H ( Hydroperoxide)

R-O-O-R ( Peroxide)

• Ethers make suitable solvents because they are unreactive towards acids, bases, and oxidizing agents.

•  Like alkanes, Athens undergoes combustion and halogenation reactions.

Physical Properties:

• Ethers are colorless, highly inflatable compounds of low boiling points.

• Their chemical inactivity and their ability to dissolve fats, oils, gums, and other organic compounds make them excellent solvents.

• Ethers are soluble in sulphuric acid. This property is used as a distinguished test between ethers and saturated hydrocarbons.

•  Lower ethers act as an anesthetic.

•  Ethers are lighter than water.

Nomenclature IUPAC names of Ethers:

While naming ethers using IUPAC conventions, the more complex group is used as the root name, and the oxygen atom and the smaller group are named as an alkoxy substituent. Examples given above are:

• Ethoxypropane (ethyl propyl ether).

• Methoxy ethane (methyl ethyl ether).

• 2-methoxy-2-methylpropane (MTBE).

• Phenoxy benzene (diphenyl ether). 

Preparation of Ether by properties of Williamson’s Synthesis

• This is the most important method of forming ethers ( nucleophilic substitution reaction ), also known as Williamson’s Synthesis. It consists of an SN2 attack by an alkoxide ion on an alkyl halide. Alkyl sulfate or alkyl sulfonate.

Nucleophilic Substitution Reaction ( Na + C2H6O- + C2H6ClC2H6OC2H6 + Na+Cl-)

Willamson’s Synthesis Mechanism :

Uses of Ether

•  Diethyl ether is used as an anesthetic in surgery.

•  Ether is used as a cooling agent.

•  It is used as an invert solvent in Grignard reagent and solvent in the industry for resin, oils, etc.

•  Ether is used along with petrol as a motor fuel.

•  Phenyl ether can be used as a heat transfer medium because of its high boiling point.

Conclusion:

Ether is a molecule or compound with the following molecular formula R-O-R’ central oxygen attached to two different or the same R groups. The oxygen has two pairs of lone electrons. The nomenclature system for the ether compounds is joined by oxygen and not named alphabetically, followed by the word ether. The three compounds compound one is the following molecule: it has central oxygen that has two of the same name R groups and two methyl groups named dimethyl. Ethers are typically used as solvents; they are excellent because they can stabilize the product.