Williamson Ether Synthesis

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Williamson ether synthesis is a method of preparation of ethers. It is a nucleophilic aliphatic substitution at saturated carbon in which the nucleophile is either an alkoxide ion or a phenoxide ion.

R¹ = alkyl, allylic, benzylic
R² = alkyl, aryl

eg:

Some symmetrical ethers can not be prepared using Williamson either synthesis because, in addition to nucleophilic aliphatic substitution, 1,2-elimination could occur between a substrate bearing beta hydrogens and an alkoxide ion, leading to an alkene as the organic product.

eg:

To prepare ether 1 using Williamson ether synthesis, a tert-butyl substrate (2) should be reacted with the tert-butoxide ion (3).

Since alkoxide ions are strongly basic and since the substrate is a tertiary alkyl substrate, the major reaction between 2 and 3 would be 1,2-elimination, giving alkene 4 as the organic product.

Preparation of unsymmetrical ethers using Williamson ether synthesis requires planning because, again, in addition to nucleophilic aliphatic substitution, 1,2-elimination could occur between some substrates and alkoxide ion and could be the dominant process.

eg: