How to Prepare Ethyl Hexyl Ether Using Williamson Ether Synthesis

How can ethyl hexyl ether be synthesized using the Williamson ether synthesis? Ethyl hexyl ether can be synthesized using the Williamson ether synthesis where first, an ethoxide ion is produced by treating ethanol with sodium hydride. Subsequently, this ethoxide ion is reacted with n-hexyl bromide to produce ethyl hexyl ether.

Overview of Williamson Ether Synthesis

Williamson ether synthesis is a common method in organic chemistry for preparing ethers. In this reaction, an alkoxide ion acts as a nucleophile and substitutes a halide on an alkyl halide to form an ether.

Synthesis of Ethyl Hexyl Ether

To prepare ethyl hexyl ether, we first need to generate the ethoxide ion. This can be achieved by reacting ethanol with a strong base like sodium hydride:

CH3CH2OH + NaH → CH3CH2O- Na+ + H2

Next, the ethoxide ion obtained will participate in the Williamson ether synthesis by reacting with n-hexyl bromide:

CH3CH2O- Na+ + Br(CH2)5CH3 → CH3CH2O(CH2)5CH3 + NaBr

This reaction will result in the formation of ethyl hexyl ether. The Williamson ether synthesis allows for the formation of ethers by the substitution of alkyl halides with alkoxides in the presence of a strong base.

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