Ether Nomenclature

Introduction:

The replacement of hydrogen atom in a hydrocarbon by an alkoxy group yields a new class of compounds known as ether. Ether is differing from the alcohols and phenols. Examples for ethers are as follows diethyl ether, methyl n-propyl ether, methylphenyl ether, ethylphenyl ether, heptyphenyl ether, methyl isopropyl ether and pheylisopentyl ether.          

Classification of Ether:

Based on the nomenclature property ether can be classified as two types.

Classification of ether:
Symmetrical ether
Unsymmetrical ether

Symmetrical ether:
Alkyl or aryl group attached to the oxygen atom are the similar is called as symmetric ether.
Example for symmetrical ether:
 Diethyl ether

Unsymmetrical ether:
Alkyl or aryl group closed to the oxygen atom are the different is called as unsymmetrical ether.

Example for unsymmetrical ether:
CH₃OC₂H₅

Nomenclature ether:
General name of ether is derived from the name of alkyl or aryl groups.
Example for ether with IUPAC name:
Common name                         IUPAC name
Dimethyl ether                         methoxymethane
Diethyl ether                           ethoxyetahne
Methyl n-propyl ether            1-methoxypropane
Methylphenyl ether                methoxypropane
Ethylphenyl ether                   ethoxybenzene
Heptyphenyl ether                  1-phenoxyheptane
Methyl isopropyl ether           2-methoxypropane  
Pheylisopentyl ether              3-methylbutoxybenzene

      According to IUPAC system of nomenclature, ethers are observed as hydrocarbon derived in which a hydrogen atom is swapped by an –OR or –OAr group, where R and Ar denotes the alkyl and aryl groups respectively. The huger (R) group is chosen as the parent hydrocarbon.

Properties of Ether Nomenclature:

Physical properties of ether:
      The C-O combinations in ethers are polar. Ethers contain net dipole moment. The weak polarity of ethers does not significantly affect their boiling points which are similar to those of the alkenes of comparable molecular groups.
The following ethers have the low level boiling point:
Ether name                      boiling point
N-pentane                              309.1
Ethoxyethane                        307.6
Butan-ol                                 390

Chemical properties of ether:
Cleavage C-O bond in ethers
Electrophilic substitution
Types of electrophilic substitution:

• Halogenations
• Friedel crafts reaction
• Nitration