Reactions of Ethers
Ethers (R-O-R’) are compounds formed by replacing hydrogen atoms of an alcohol (R-OH compound) or a phenol (C6H5OH) by an aryl/ acyl group (functional group after removing single hydrogen from an aromatic ring). In this section, reaction, preparation and behavior of ethers are discussed in the context of organic chemistry.
Epoxides
Epoxides are a special class of cyclic ethers which are an important functional group in organic chemistry and generate reactive centers due to their unusual high reactivity. Due to their high reactivity, epoxides are considered to be toxic and mutagenic.
Williamson Ether Synthesis
An organic reaction in which an organohalide and a deprotonated alcohol forms ether is known as Williamson ether synthesis. Alexander Williamson developed the Williamson ether synthesis in 1850. The formation of ether in this synthesis is an SN2 reaction.
a) Reaction is a dehydration of alcohol in which the alcohols are converted to alkenes, the reaction intermediate is stable carbocation.
b) Reaction is a Pinacol-Pinacolone rearrangement in which the intermediate is a stable carbocation.
c) This reaction is a Grignard reagent reaction on a cyclic esters in which the ring gets open.
All the required mechanism for above reaction are given in a detailed manner in a attached image.
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