[Chemistry Class Notes] Ethers Nomenclature Pdf for Exam

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What are Ethers?

Ethers belong to the class or group of organic compounds with an ether group comprising an oxygen atom connected to either two alkyl or aryl groups. The general formula of ethers is R-O-R′, Ar-O-Ar, or R-O-Ar, where R and R′ represent either alkyl or aryl groups. Ethers have a similar structure to that of alcohol, whereas both Ethers and Alcohols have a similar structure to that of water.

One hydrogen atom of a molecule of water is replaced by an alkyl group in alcohol, whereas coming to the ether, both the hydrogen atoms are replaced either by alkyl or aryl groups.

Ethers Classifications

Let us now discuss the ethers classifications. Based on their attached substituent groups, ethers can be classified into two categories, generally. They are listed below.

If two identical groups are attached to either side of an oxygen atom, then it is referred to as symmetrical ethers. These are also known as Simple Ethers.

Examples are diethyl ether, dipropyl ether, dimethyl ether, and more.

If two different groups are attached to either side of an oxygen atom, it is said to be asymmetrical ethers. These are also known as Mixed Ethers.

Examples are methyl phenyl ether, ethyl methyl ether, and more.

The majority of the compounds having a similar structural formula were known by different names earlier, depending on the regions they were synthesized. Such a naming system was very trivial since it raised a lot of confusion. Ultimately, a common naming system enlisting standard rules was introduced by IUPAC (The International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry) for the compound’s naming. This method of naming is known as an IUPAC naming or IUPAC nomenclature of ethers. 

Ether Nomenclature

The nomenclature of ethers rotates around two standard ways of naming, which are given below.

Nomenclature of Ethers Rules

For example, the name CH₃OC₆H₅ is given by “Methyl phenyl ether.”

• The oxygen atoms of ethers attached to the same group on either side are named using Greek numerical prefixes like “di.” Ethers of these kinds are named by adding the suffix “di” before the aryl/alkyl groups, attached to the oxygen atom.

For example, CH₃OCH₃ is named as “Dimethyl ether.”

• Ethers IUPAC nomenclature of ethers follows various guidelines. As per the IUPAC naming, a substituent group having more carbon atoms is chosen as parent hydrocarbon. Whereas, the other substituent group attached to the same oxygen atom is named by using a prefix “oxy.”

For example, CH₃OC₂H₅ is named as “1-methoxy ethane.”

Common Nomenclature of Ethers

Ethers common names simply give the two alkyl group names bonded to oxygen and add the word “ether.” As a current practice, it is to list the alkyl groups in alphabetical order (t-butyl methyl ether), but often, older names list the alkyl groups in increasing order of size (methyl t-butyl ether). Just, if one alkyl group is described in the name, it represents two identical groups, like in ethyl ether for diethyl ether.

The ether IUPAC name (systematic) uses a smaller group named as an alkoxy substituent and the more complex group as the root name, with the oxygen atom. The above-given examples are methoxyethane (methyl-ethyl-ether), ethoxyethane (diethyl-ether), 2-methoxy-2-methylpropane (MTBE), and phenoxybenzene (diphenyl-ether). The IUPAC nomenclature of ether works better for the compounds with additional functional groups, because the other functional groups can be described in the root name.

The nomenclature of ethers examples is given below.

According to the formula R1–O–R2, ethers are the compounds having two alkyl or aryl groups bonded to an oxygen atom. The functional group of ether does not have a characteristic IUPAC nomenclature suffix, so it is required to indicate it as a substituent. So as to make it, the common alkoxy substituents are given names derived from their alkyl component, as tabulated below.

IUPAC Nomenclature of Ethers

Ethers can be named by naming two each carbon group as a separate word followed by a space with the word ether. The -OR group can be named as a substituent by using the alkox group name.

Is CH₃-CH₂-O-CH₃, Called Ethyl-methyl-ether or Methoxyethane?

The smaller and shorter alkyl group becomes the alkoxy substituent. The larger and longer alkyl group becomes the alkane base name. Each alkyl group on each oxygen side is separately numbered. The priority of numbering is given to the carbon that is near to the oxygen. The alkoxy side (means, the shorter side) has an “-oxy” ending with its respective alkyl group.

For example, CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂CH₂-O-CH₂CH₂CH₃ is of 1-propoxypentane type. If there is trans or cis stereochemistry, still the same rule applies.

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