CH3 H HCI CH3 H Epoxides are cleaved by acid as are other ethers, but milder conditions are sufficient due to ring strain. The mechanism of acid-catalyzed epoxide opening complex. They seem to be neither purely SN1 nor SN2, but instead to be midw between these two extremes and to have characteristics of both mechanisms. When both epoxide carbon atoms are either primary or secondary, attack of the nucleophile occurs primarily at the less substituted site, an SN2-like result. C the other hand, when one of the epoxide carbons is tertiary nucleophilic attack occurs primarily at the more substituted site, an SN1-like result. H-CI OH Draw curved arrows to show the movement of electrons in this step of the mechanism. Arrow-pushing Instructions 20 →XT CH3 CH3 OH CI
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.
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