Chemistry · Chapter 12
Study notes aligned to the official NEB syllabus.
Ethers are organic compounds in which an oxygen atom is bonded to two carbon (alkyl or aryl) groups: general formula $\ce{R-O-R'}$. The simplest is dimethyl ether $\ce{CH3-O-CH3}$; the most important is diethyl ether (ethoxyethane) $\ce{C2H5-O-C2H5}$.
Ethers are functional isomers of alcohols (both $\ce{C_nH_{2n+2}O}$) and show metamerism (different alkyl groups on either side of oxygen: $\ce{C4H10O}$ can be $\ce{CH3-O-C3H7}$ or $\ce{C2H5-O-C2H5}$). The $\ce{C-O-C}$ angle is about $110^\circ$ and the molecule is weakly polar.
IUPAC naming: the smaller group + oxygen is named as an alkoxy substituent on the larger alkane, e.g. $\ce{CH3-O-C2H5}$ is methoxyethane, $\ce{C2H5-O-C2H5}$ is ethoxyethane.
Ethers are organic compounds in which an oxygen atom is bonded to two carbon (alkyl or aryl) groups: general formula . The simplest is dimethyl ether ; the most important is diethyl ether (ethoxyethane) .
Ethers are functional isomers of alcohols (both ) and show metamerism (different alkyl groups on either side of oxygen: can be or ). The angle is about and the molecule is weakly polar.
IUPAC naming: the smaller group + oxygen is named as an alkoxy substituent on the larger alkane, e.g. is methoxyethane, is ethoxyethane.