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18.1 Names and Properties of Ethers

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    44281
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    Objectives

    After completing this section, you should be able to

    1. write two acceptable names for a simple dialkyl ether, given its Kekulé, shorthand or condensed structure.
    2. name a complicated ether by the IUPAC system, given its Kekulé, shorthand or condensed structure.
    3. draw the Kekulé, condensed or shorthand structure of an ether, given an acceptable name.
    4. explain why the boiling point of an ether is generally higher than that of an alkane of similar molecular mass.

    Structure of EthersEdit section

    Ethers are a class of organic compounds that contain an oxygen between two alkyl groups. They have the formula R-O-R', with R's being the alkyl groups. these compounds are used in dye, perfumes, oils, waxes and industrial use. Ethers are named as alkoxyalkanes. An aliphatic ether is an ether in the molecule of which there are no aryl groups on the ether group, eg:

    aliphaticether1.png

    An ether molecule may contain aryl groups, nevertheless, be an aliphatic ether. eg:

    aliphaticether2.png

    Naming Ethers

    Ethers are compounds having two alkyl or aryl groups bonded to an oxygen atom, as in the formula R1–O–R2. The ether functional group does not have a characteristic IUPAC nomenclature suffix, so it is necessary to designate it as a substituent. To do so the common alkoxy substituents are given names derived from their alkyl component (Table 18.1.1):

    Table 18.1.1: Common Alkyl and Alkoxy Groups
    Alkyl Group Name Alkoxy Group Name
    CH3 Methyl CH3O– Methoxy
    CH3CH2 Ethyl CH3CH2O– Ethoxy
    (CH3)2CH– Isopropyl (CH3)2CHO– Isopropoxy
    (CH3)3C– tert-Butyl (CH3)3CO– tert-Butoxy
    C6H5 Phenyl C6H5O– Phenoxy

    The smaller, shorter alkyl group becomes the alkoxy substituent. The larger, longer alkyl group side becomes the alkane base name. Each alkyl group on each side of the oxygen is numbered separately. The numbering priority is given to the carbon closest to the oxgen. The alkoxy side (shorter side) has an "-oxy" ending with its corresponding alkyl group. For example, CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2-O-CH2CH2CH3 is 1-propoxypentane. If there is cis or trans stereochemistry, the same rule still applies.

    Example 18.1.1

    Examples of ethers include CH3CH2OCH2CH3, diethyl ether (sometimes referred to as ether), and CH3OCH2CH2OCH3, ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (glyme).

    ethernom.gif

    Common names

    Simple ethers are given common names in which the alkyl groups bonded to the oxygen are named in alphabetical order followed by the word "ether". The top left example shows the common name in blue under the IUPAC name. Many simple ethers are symmetrical, in that the two alkyl substituents are the same. These are named as "dialkyl ethers".

    Heterocycles

    In cyclic ethers (heterocycles), one or more carbons are replaced with oxygen. Often, it's called heteroatoms, when carbon is replaced by an oxygen or any atom other than carbon or hydrogen. In this case, the stem is called the oxacycloalkane, where the prefix "oxa-" is an indicator of the replacement of the carbon by an oxygen in the ring. These compounds are numbered starting at the oxygen and continues around the ring. For example,

    ex cred pic better.jpg

    If a substituent is an alcohol, the alcohol has higher priority. However, if a substituent is a halide, ether has higher priority. If there is both an alcohol group and a halide, alcohol has higher priority. The numbering begins with the end that is closest to the higher priority substituent. There are ethers that are contain multiple ether groups that are called cyclic polyethers or crown ethers. These are also named using the IUPAC system.

    Problems

    Name the following ethers:

    ETHER PROBS.bmp

    Solutions

    1. diethyl ether;
    2. 2-ethoxy-2-methyl-1-propane;
    3. cis-1-ethoxy-2-methoxycyclopentane;
    4. 1-ethoxy-1-methylcyclohexane;
    5. oxacyclopropane;
    6. 2,2-Dimethyloxacyclopropane)

    Common names of some ethersEdit section

    • anisole (try naming anisole by the other two conventions. J )

    ether3.gif

    • oxirane

    ether4.gif

    1,2-epoxyethane, ethylene oxide, dimethylene oxide, oxacyclopropane,

    • furan (this compound is aromatic)

    ether5.gif

    tetrahydrofuran

    ether6.gif

    oxacyclopentane, 1,4-epoxybutane, tetramethylene oxide,

    • dioxane

    ether7.gif

    1,4-dioxacyclohexane

    Comparisons of Physical Properties of Alcohols and Ethers

    Ether molecules have no hydrogen atom on the oxygen atom (that is, no OH group). Therefore there is no intermolecular hydrogen bonding between ether molecules, and ethers therefore have quite low boiling points for a given molar mass. Indeed, ethers have boiling points about the same as those of alkanes of comparable molar mass and much lower than those of the corresponding alcohols (Table 18.1.2).

    Table 18.1.2 Comparison of Boiling Points of Alkanes, Alcohols, and Ethers
    Condensed Structural Formula Name Molar Mass Boiling Point (°C) Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding in Pure Liquid?
    CH3CH2CH3 propane 44 –42 no
    CH3OCH3 dime thyl ether 46 –25 no
    CH3CH2OH ethyl alcohol 46 78 yes
    CH3CH2CH2CH2CH3 pentane 72 36 no
    CH3CH2OCH2CH3 diethyl ether 74 35 no
    CH3CH2CH2CH2OH butyl alcohol 74 117 yes

    Ether molecules do have an oxygen atom, however, and engage in hydrogen bonding with water molecules. Consequently, an ether has about the same solubility in water as the alcohol that is isomeric with it. For example, dimethyl ether and ethanol (both having the molecular formula C2H6O) are completely soluble in water, whereas diethyl ether and 1-butanol (both C4H10O) are barely soluble in water (8 g/100 mL of water).

    Contributors


    18.1 Names and Properties of Ethers is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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