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18.2: Introduction

  • Page ID
    162210
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    Objectives

    After completing this section, you should be able to use the terms “ether,” “diethyl ether ” and “ethyl ether ” appropriately in context.

    Key Terms

    Make certain that you can define, and use in context, the key terms below.

    • ether (\(\ce{R-O-R′}\))
    • sulfide (\(\ce{R-S-R′}\))
    • thiol (\(\ce{R-S-H}\))
    Study Notes

    As defined in the textbook, an “ether” is a substance with the general formula (\(\ce{R-O-R′}\)) where \(\ce{R}\) and \(\ce{R′}\) are alkyl, aryl, vinyl or allyl groups. However, the word “ether” is also commonly used to refer to the specific compound, \(\ce{CH3-CH2-O-CH2-CH3}\), which is correctly called “diethyl ether.” Further confusion can arise because some chemists refer to “diethyl ether ” as “ethyl ether.” In this course, “ether ” will be used to refer to the class of compounds with the structure (\(\ce{R-O-R′}\)); diethyl ether will refer to the compound, \(\ce{CH3-CH2-O-CH2-CH3}\); and “ethyl ether ” will not be used.

    Ethers and Epoxides

    While the general formula for ethers is R-O-R′, keep in mind that there also cyclic ethers like tetrahydrofuran (a common organic solvent) or even epoxides which you first encounter in Section 8.7 in synthesizing diols from alkenes.

    Bond line drawing of ethyl methyl ether and tetrahydrofuran.

    Thiols and Sulfides

    Thiols (thio alcohols or mercaptans) and sulfides (thioethers) are the sulfur analogues of alcohols and ethers and have the general formulas of R-S-H and R-S-R′, respectively.

    Bond line drawing of ethanethiol and methyl phenyl sulfide.

    Contributors and Attributions


    18.2: Introduction is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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