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ALCOHOLS & ETHERS Page # 3

ALCOHOL

Introduction

O O
H
H H C H
104.5 108.9
water H
H
methyl alcohol
Physical Properties
(1) Boiling point :
(a) Alcohols show increase in boiling point with increase in molecular weight amongst homologues.
(b) Alcohols have higher boiling point than hydrocarbons of the same molecular weight. The reason
for higher boiling point is the intermolecular H-bonding present in alcohols.
HO HO HO
R R R
Intermolecular H bonds in alcohol
(2) Solubility in water :
As molecular weight increases solubility in water decreases. The lower alcohols are miscible with water.
This is due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding between alcohol and water molecules.
HO HO HO HO
H R H R
Intermolecular H bond between water & alcohol molecules
Preparation of alcohols
(1) From alkenes
(a) By acid catalyzed hydration of alkenes : Formation of carbocation intermediate (Markovnikov
addition, rearrangement possible)
conc.H SO 2 4 Boiling H O
General reacion RCH=CH2 RCHCH3 2
RCHCH3
Markonikof f 's addition
Alkene
OSO3H OH
Alcohol

Boiling H 2O
H HSO4
e.g. CH3CH=CH 2 CH3CHCH3 CH 3CHCH 3

OSO 3H
H2SO4+CH 3CHCH 3

OH

(b) By Oxymercuration - demercuration process :


(1) Oxymercuration involves an electrophilic attack on the double bond by the positively charged
mercury species. The product is a mercurinium ion, an organometallic cation containing a
three-membered ring.
(2) In the second step, water from the solvent attacks the mercurinium ion to give (after
deprotonation) an organomercurial alcohol.
(3) The third step is demercuration to remove the Hg. Sodium borohydride (NaBH4, a reducing
agent) re-places the mercuric acetate fragment with hydrogen.

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General reaction
H H
O
H H THF
C=C + H2O + Hg RCCH + CH 3COOH
R H O C CH3 2 O
OH Hg(OCCH 3)

H H H H O

RC CH + OH + NaBH4 RC CH + Hg + CH3CO
O
OH Hg(OCCH3) OH H

Hg(OAc ) OH
e.g. CH3CH=CH2
2
CH 3CHCH2 CH 3CHCH3
THF / H O NaBH 4
2

Prop-1-ene OH Hg(OAc) OH
Propan-2-ol
(c) By Hydroboration - oxidation process : (Forms anti-markovnikov alcohol, no rearrangement)
(i) BH .THF 3
General reaction RCh=CH2 ( RCH2CH2OH
ii) H O , NaOH
2 2

CH3H
H3 C CH3 (i) BH3 .THF
e.g. C=C
H 3CCCCH 3
(ii) H2 O2 , NaOH
H3 C H
H OH

Ex. Give the major product of the following reaction

(a) dil H2SO4

CH3CHCH=CH2 (b) (i) Hg(OCOCH 3)2 / H 2O


CH3 (ii) NaBH 4 / OH
3-Methyl-1-butene (c) (i) BH3.THF
(ii)H2O2 / OH
Ans. Major product is
CH3
(a) CH3CCH2CH3 because 3o carbocation is more stable.

OH
CH3
(b) CH3CHCHCH3

OH
CH3
(c) CH3CHCH2CH2OH

(2) From alkyl halides : By nucleophilic substitution reactions


(a) By SN2 mechanism (second-order substitution) : It is given by primary (and some
secondary) halides
KOH
General reaction : RCH2Br
RCH2OH
H2 O

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KOH
e.g. (CH3)2CHCH2CH2Br
(CH3)2CHCH2CH2 OH
H2O

H Br HO H
C KOH
C
e.g. CH3 CH2CH3
CH3 CH2CH3
SN2

(S)-2-Bromobutane (R)-2-utanol
100% inverted configuration
(b) By SN1 mechanism : It is given by tertiary and some secondary halides
R' R'
Acetone / water
General reaction : RCR" RCR"
Heat

Cl OH

CH3 CH3
acetone / water / heat
e.g. CH3CCH3 CH3CCH3
SN 1

Cl OH
Tert-butyl chloride Tert-butyl alcohol

(3) From Grignard reagents

(a) From air


A Grignard reagent may be used to synthesize an alcohol by treating it with dry oxygen and decomposing
the product with acid :
O
2 RMgX H O
General reaction RMgX RO2MgX 2ROMgX 2ROH 3

O2 C 2H5MgX
H O
e.g. C2H5MgBr C2H5O2MgX 2C2H5OMgX 2C2H5OH + MgBr(OH) 3

(b) From ethylene oxide


Addition of Grignard reagent to ethylene oxide gives a primary alcohol (with two carbon atoms added)

CH2
H O 3
General reaction O + RMgX RCH2CH2OMgX RCH2CH2OH + MgX(OH)
CH2
CH 2
H O 3
e.g. O + C2H5MgBr C2H5CH2CH2OMgX C 2H 5CH 2CH 2OH + MgBr(OH)
CH 2 Butyl alchohol

MgBr

O CH2CHOH
(1) CH2CHCH3
Cyclohexylmagnesium bromide
CH3
(2) H3O

(c) From carbonyl compounds : Nucleophilic addition to the carbonyl groups by Grignard reagent

O O MgX OH

H3O
General reaction C + R MgX C
ether C + Mg(OH)X

R R

adduct

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(i) Addition of formaldehyde gives a primary alcohol


H Ether
H OMgX H O
3
General reaction C = O + RMgX C RCH2OH
H H R

(ii) Addition to an aldehyde (other than formaldehyde) gives a secondary alcohol


O
Ether
R OMgX H O R OH
3
General reaction RCH + R'MgX C C
H R' H R'
(sec-alcohol)
O H
(1) ether solvent
e.g. MgBr + CH3CH COH
(2) H3O
acetaldehyde CH3
Phenylmagnesium bromide
1-phenylethanol
(iii) Addition to a ketone gives a tertiary alcohol
R
R (1) ether
General reaction C=O + RMgX RCOH + MgX(OH)
(2) H3O
R'
R
ketone

O OH
(1) ether
e.g. CH3CH2MgCl + CH2CH3
(2) H3O

Cyclohexanone 1-Ethylcyclohexanol

(iv) Addition to an acid halide or an ester gives a tertiary alcohol


Esters on treatment with Grignard ragent first form ketones which then react with second
molecule of Grignard reagent and form tertiary alcohol.
General reaction

O O MgX O
OR'
RC OR+ RMgX RCOR RCR+ Mg
X
R

R
R H2O / H
C=O + R MgX
RCR
R
OH
tertiaryalcohol


O O MgX O
RCX + RMgX RCX RCR+ MgX2 OH
RMgX X
R RCR+ Mg
OH
R'

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(4) By reduction of carbonyl compounds


(a) Catalytic hydrogenation of aldehydes and ketones
General reaction H2 / Ni
RCHO RCH2OH
o
Aldehyde 1 Alcohol
H2 / Ni
R2C=O R2CHOH
o
Ketone 2 Alcohol
H / Ni 2
e.g. CH3CHO + 2H CH3CH2OH
Ni
CH2=CHCHO + 4H CH3CH2CH2OH
Catalyst
(Acrolein)
O H
Ni OH
+ 4H

(b) Lithium aluminium hydride reduction of aldehydes and ketones


LiAlH4
General reaction (i) RCHO RCH2OH
o
Aldehyde 1 Alcohol
LiAlH4
R2C=O R2CHOH
(ii)
o
Ketone 2 Alcohol
LiAlH 4
(iii) RCOOH + 4H RCH2OH + H2O
LiAlH 4
(iv) RCCl + 4H RCH2OH + HCl
O
LiAlH 4
(v) RCOR' RCH2OH + ROH
O
O
LiAlH 4
e.g. CH3COH CH3CH2OH
O

C 2H5CCl + 4H C2H5CH2OH + HCl

(c) By NaBH4 (sodium borohydride) : It is insoluble in ether and is used in aqueous ethanolic
solution to reduce carbonyl compounds. It does not reduce esters and acids.
O
NaBH4
RCH RCH2OH
O
NaBH 4
e.g. CH CH2OH

benzaidehyde benzyl alcohol


NaBH 4
CH3 CH=CHCHO + 4H CH3CH=CHCH2OH

(ii) Reduction of a ketone gives a secondary alcohol


O H
NaBH4 OH

Cyclohexanone Cyclohexanol

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Page # 8 ALCOHOLS & ETHERS

(d) Bouveault-Blanc reduction : The reduction of aldehydes, ketones or esters by means of excess
of sodium and ethanol or n-butanol as the reducing agent.
General reaction
Na
(i) Aldehyde RCHO RCH OH
EtOH 2

Na
(ii) Esters RCO2R RCH OH + ROH
EtOH 2

Na
(iii) Ketones R2CO R CHOH
EtOH 2

The Bouveault-Blanc reduction is believed to occur in steps involving transfer of one electron at a
time.
Mechanism

Na EtOH Na
RCOEt RCOEt RCHOEt RCHOEt
O O O O

EtOH Na EtOH Na
RCH2OH O RCH2O RCH2O RCO RCH=O+OEt

Na
e.g. CH3CHO + 2H CH3CH2OH
EtOH

Na
CH3COOC2H5 + 4H 2CH3CH2OH
EtOH

CH3
Na
CH3CCH3+2H CHOH
EtOH
CH3
O

Ex. Identify (X) in the following reaction


O
LiAlH4
CH3CHCH2CH X

OH
Ans. X=CH3CHCH2CH2OH
OH

Ex. What are the product A, B, C, D and E in the following reactions?


O NaBH4
O O B
OEt LiAlH4 CH4OH
A
LiAlH4
O C
O
O
OEt NaBH4 NaBH4
D E
CH3OH CH3OH
O O

OH
Ans. A: OH + (EtOH)

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O O
B: Ester part is not affected by NaBH4

OH

OH OH
C: Ester part and keto parts are affected by LiAlH4

OH
O
OEt
D:
O

E:
OH

(5) By reaction of nitrous acid on aliphatic primary amines


NaNO2 / HCl
General reaction RNH2+HONO ROH + N2 + H2O
Mech.
HNO2
RNH2 (R N2 ) ROH+ N2+ H
H2O

e.g. (i) C2H5NH2 + HNO2 C2H5OH + N2 + H2O


CH3 CH3
NaNO2 / HCl
(ii) CH3CH2 CCH3 + HONO
CH3CH2 CCH3 + N2+H2O
NH2 OH
Mech.
CH3 CH3 CH 3
HONO H2O
CH3CH2 CCH3 CH3CH2 CCH3 CH3CH2 CCH3

NH2 OH

(6) Hydroxylation : Forms vicinal diols (glycols)


Converting an alkene to a glycol requires adding a hydroxy group to each end of the double bond. This
addition is called hydroxylation of the double bond.
(a) Syn hydroxylation, using KMnO4 / NaOH or using OsO4/H2O2
General reaction :
OsO4,H2O2
C=C C=C
or KMnO4,OH
(cold, dilute) HO OH

H CH2CH3
CH2CH3
C
KMnO4 H OH
e.g.
C cold
( dilute) H OH
H CH2CH3 CH2CH3
cis-3-hexene

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H
OH
OsO4 / H2O2


OH
Cyclopentene H
cis-Cyclopentane-1, 2-diol

(b) Anti hydroxylation, using per acids

H

OH
RCOOH, H

H2O

Cyclopentene H
OH
trans-Cyclopentane-1, 2-diol

Chemical reactions of alcohols


1. Reaction with hydrogen halides

General reaction :
R OH + HX R X + H2O (R may rearrange)
Reactivity of HX : Hl > HBr > HCl
Reactivity of ROH: allyl, benzyl > 3o > 2o > 1o

Mechanism H
R OH R
OH2 X RX
X
R
cons. HBr
e.g. CH3CHCH3 CH3CHCH3
or NaBr,H2SO4
OH reflux Br
Isopropyl alcohol Isopropyl bromide

HCl, (anhydrous) ZnCl2


Lucas reagent
e.g. CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2OH CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2Cl
heat n-Pentyl chloride
n-Pentyl alcohol

CH3 CH3
conc. HCl
e.g. CH3CCH3 CH3CCH3
room temp.

OH Cl
tert- Butyl alcohol tert-Butyl chloride

2. Reaction with Phosphorus trihalides


(1) Several phosphorus halides are useful for converting alcohols to alkyl halides. PBr3, PCl3, & PCl5
work well and are commercially available.
(2) Phosphorus halides produce good yields of most primary and secondary alkyl halides, but none
works well with ter. alcohols. The two phosphorus halides used most often are PBr3 and the
P4 / I2 combination.
General reaction :
(PX3 PCl3 , PBr3 , Pl3 )
3R OH + PX3 3R X + H3PO3
Mechanism
The mechanism for the reaction involves attach of the alcohol group on the phosphorus atom, displacing
a bromide ion and forming a protonated alkyl dibromophosphite (see following reaction).

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RCH2OH + X P X
RCH 2OPX2 + X


X H
Protonated
alkyl dibromophosphite
In second step a bromide ion acts as nucleophile to displace HOPBr2, a good leaving group due to the
electronegative atoms bonded to the phosphorus.



X + RCH2 OPX2
RCH2X + HOPX2

A good leaving group

CH3 CH 3
PBr3
e.g. CH3CH2CH CH2OH CH3CH 2CH CH2Br
2Methyl1butanol 2Methyl1bromobutane
P I2
CH 3CH2OH CH3CH2I
Ethyl alcohol Ethyl iodide

3. Reaction with thionyl chloride


O
Heat
ROH+ClSCl RCl+SO2+HCl

4. Dehydration of alcohols

acid
C C C = C + H2O (Rearrangement may occur)

H OH
Mechanism

CH3 H CH3 H


Step 1 : CH3 C O H+HO CH3 C O H + H O


CH3 H CH3 H
Protonated alcohol
or alkyloxonium ion

CH3 H CH3
C H
Step 2 : CH3 C O H +

CH3 CH3 OH
CH3
A carbocation

H CH2
HCH H C H

Step 3 : C + OH CH3 CH3 + H O H



CH3 CH3 2-Methylpropene
Reactivity of ROH : 3 > 2 > 1

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Page # 12 ALCOHOLS & ETHERS

5. Reaction with metals



ROH+M RO M + H2 M=Na, K, Mg, Al, etc
o o o
Reactivity order of ROH: CH3OH > 1 > 2 > 3
Na
e.g. CH 3CH2OH CH3CH2O M + H2
Ethyl alcohol Sodium ethoxide

CH3 CH3
Al
3
CH3COH (CH3CO)3Al + H2
2
H H
Isoporpyl alcohol Aluminium Isopropoxide

CH3 CH3

CH3COH CH3CO K
K


CH3 CH3
tertButyl alcohol Potassium tert-butoxide

6. Ester formation

General reaction

O O
RC R'OH H RC
+ + H2O
OH Alcohol OR'
Acid Ester

O
O
H
e.g. CH3CH2O H + CH 3C CH3C + H2O
OH OC2H5
Acetic acid Ethyl acetate

O H2SO4 O
CH2CH2CH2C + C2H5OH CH2CH2CH2C +H2O
OH reflux OC2H5
Ethyl alcohol
-Phenyl butyric acid (8 moles) Ethyl -phenyl butyrate
(1 mole) (85-88% yield)

7. Oxidation reactions
(a) oxidation of primary alcohols
Oxidation of a primary alcohol initially forms an aldehyde. obtaining the aldehyde is often difficult, since
most oxidizing agents are strong enough to oxidize the adehydes formed. CrO3 acid generally oxidizes a
primary alcohol all the way upto the carboxylic acid
(b) oxidation of secondary aldohols
Sec. alcohols are easily oxidized to give excellent yields of ketones. The chromic acid reagent is often
best for laboratory oxidations of secondary alcohols. The active species in the mixture is probably
chromic acid,

H2CrO4, or the acid chromate ion, HCrO4

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(c) Resistance of tertiary alcohols to oxidation


Oxidation of ter-alcohol is not an important reaction is organic chemistry. Ter-alcohols have hydrogen
atoms on the carbinol carbon atom, so oxidation must take place by breaking CC bonds. These
oxidations require severe conditions and result in mixtures of products.

H

C2H5NH CrO3Cl
RC=O
Primary RCH2OH An aldehyde
KMnO4
RCOOH
A carboxylic acid

R R

K Cr O7 or CrO3 / H
Secondary RCHOH 22 RC = O
A ketone

R
KMnO4
Tertiary RCOH no reaction

H
C5H5NHCrO3Cl
e.g. CH3CH 2CH2OH CH3CH2C=O
n-Propyl alcohol Propionaldehyde
(1)

CH3 CH3
KMnO4
CH3CH2CHCH2OH CH3CH2CHCOOH
2-Methyl-1-butanol 2-Methylbutanoic acid
(1)


CrO3 / H
CH3CH2CHCH2CH3 CH3CH2CCH2CH3

OH O
3-Pentanol 3-Pentanone
(2)

OH

CrO3
Ex. A
H2SO4
acetone

Identify A

OH O

CrO3
Ans.
H2SO4
acetone

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Page # 14 ALCOHOLS & ETHERS

ETHER
Structure of ether

Compound Hybridization Bond angle

O
H H sp3 104.5

O O O water
H H
O
C 110 C H 104.5 H (CH3)3C 132 C(CH 3)3 R H sp3 108.5
H Water Di-ter.butyl ether Alcohol
H
H H O
R R
dimethyl ether sp3 111.7
Ether

Classificaion of Acyclic ethers


S.No. Type Example Name
CH3OCH3 Methoxy methane
1 Simple ether
CH3CH2OCH2CH3 Ethoxy ethane
2 Mixed ether CH3OCH2CH3 Methoxy ethane

IUPAC Nomenclature of ether Alkoxy Alkane


S.N. Compound IUPAC Name

1. CH3CHOCH3 2-Methoxy propane

CH3

2. ClCH2OCH3 Chloromethoxy methane

OCH3
3. Methoxy benzene (Anisole)

CH3 CH3

4. 3-Ethoxy-1, 1-dimethyl cyclohexane


H
OCH2CH3
Cl

5. H trans-1-Chloro-2-methoxy cyclobutane
OCH3

H
CH2OH
6. 2-Ethoxy ethan-1-ol
CH2OCH2CH3

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Method of Preparation of Ether


(1) Williamson synthesis
General reaction
RX + R OR
nPr Br
e.g. (i) n-PrOH CH3CH2CH2O CH2CH2CH3
Di-n-propyl ether

Na
(ii) MeOH PhCH2Br
Me O CH2OCH3

Benzylmethyl ether

Na
(iii) t-BuOH t-Bu O EtBr
t-Butyl ethyl ether
(This reaction produces a poor yield of ether because of the bulkiness of t-BuO)

2. Williamsons Continuous Etherification process or by Dehydration of Alcohols



(i) ROH + H RO H2
S2

N
ROH + R OH2 R2OH + H 2O ROR + H3O


(ii) ROH + H ROH2 R .... S1N

ROH + R ROR ROR

H2SO 4
o CH2=CH2
180 C Ethene

e.g. CH3CH2OH

H2SO 4
o CH3CH2OCH2CH3
140 C Diethyl ethene

Mechanism
H

Step-1: CH3CH2O H + H OSO3H CH3CH2O H + OSO3H

This is an acid-base reaction in which the alcohol accepts a proton from the sulfuric acid
H

Step-2 : CH 3CH 2O H + CH 3CH 2 OH

Another molecule of the alcohol acts as a nucleophile and attacks the protonated alcohol in an SN2
reaction.

H H H

Step-3 : CH3CH2O CH2CH3 + OH CH3CH2OCH2CH3 +HOH



Another acid-base reaction converts the protonated ether to an ether by transferring a proton to a
molecule of water (or to another molecule of the alcohol).

Only one combination of alkythalide and alkoxide is appropriate for the preparation of each of the
following ethers by Willianson ether synthesis. What is the correct combination in each case ?

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Page # 16 ALCOHOLS & ETHERS

3. Form alkenes
(a) By addition of alcohols in alkenes
When alcohol is added to alkenes in presence of acid, we get ethers.

General reaction
H2SO4
(I) C=C carbocation

(II) Carbocation + alcohol ether



e.g. (I) Me2C = CH2 + H (H2SO4) Me3 C

H
(II) Me3 C + EtOH Me3COEt Me3COEt
H
(b) Alkoxymercuration - demercuration

Hg(OAc )2 NaBH4
C=C CC C C
ROH


AcOHg O H H OR

mercurial ether

e.g.
(i) Hg(OCOCF3 )2
(i) RCH=CH2+ROH RCH(OR)CH3
(ii) NaBH 4

CH3 CH3
(i) Hg(OCOCF3 )2
(ii) CH2=CHCH3+CH3CH(OH)CH3 CH 3CHOCHCH3
(ii) NaBH 4

CH3 CH3
(i) Hg(OCOCF3 )2
(iii) CH3CH=CHCH3+CH3CH(OH)CH2CH3 CH3CH2CHOCHCH2CH3
(ii) NaBH 4

Reactions of ethers
1. With HX
General reaction

X H H
HX

ROR'

+HX R O R XR + OR'

XR + XR
R

alkyl halide
HBr
e.g. (i) CH3CH2CH2CH3 2CH3CH2Br

2. Reaction with sulphuric acid


Ethers dissolve in concentrated solutions of strong inorganic acids to from oxonium salts, i.e. ether
behave as bronsted Lowry bases.
conc.H2SO4

R2O + H2SO4 (R O R)HSO4
ROH + ROSO 2 OH
alkyl hydrogen
H sulphate
When heated with dilute H2SO4

R2O + H2SO4
2ROH
H O
e.g. C2H5OC2H5 + H2SO4
C2H5OH + C2H5OHSO4 2 C2H5OH + H2SO4

3. Autoxidation of ethers :
When ethers are stored in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, they slowly oxidize to produce
hydroperoxides and dialkyl peroxides, both of which are explosive. Such a spontaneous oxidation by
atmospheric oxygen is called an autoxidation.

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ALCOHOLS & ETHERS Page # 17

General reaction
OOH
excess O2
ROCH2R' ROCHR' + ROOCH2R'
(Slow)
ether Hydroperoxide dialkl peroxide

OOH
H3C CH3 H3C H3C CH3
excess O2
Ex. (i) C=C CHOCCH3 + CHOOCH
( weeks or months )
H3C CH3 H3C H3C CH3
CH3 Diisopropyl peroxide
Hydroperoxide

OOH
h
(ii) CH3CH2OCH2CH3 CH3CHOCH2CH 3
Diethyl ether 1-Ethoxyethyl hydroperoxide

4. Reaction with acid chlorides and anhydrides


Reagent : ZnCl2, AlCl3 etc.
AlCl3
General reaction (i) ROR + RCOCl RCl + RCOOR

Mech.
RCOCl + AlCl3 RCO+ + AlCl4
+ AlCl
R'O + RCO+ R'O COR RCOOR + R" 4 RCl + AlCl3
R" R"
Anhydous
ZnCl
e.g. C2H5OC2H5 + CH3COCl 2 C2H5Cl + CH3COOC2H5
ZnCl2
(ii) R2O + (CH3CO) 2O 2CH3COOR
acid anhydride
anhydrous
AlCl3
e.g. C2H5OC2H5 + (CH3CO)2O 2CH3COOC2H5

5. Reaction with carbon monoxide :


Ether react with CO at 125-180oC and at a pressure of 500 atm, in the presence of BF3 plus a little
water.
BF3
500 atm
R2O + CO
RCOOR
125 180 C

6. Reaction with halogens :


When treated with chlorine or Br, ether undergo substitution, the extent of which depends on the
conditions.
Cl2 Cl2
CH3CH2OCH2CH3
hv
CH3CHClOCH2CH3
hv
CH3CHClOCHClCH3

in presence of light
Cl2
(C2H5)2O
hv
(C2Cl5)2O
Perchloro
diethyl ether
Mech.
The reaction proceeds by a freeradical mechanism, and substitution occurs readily because of
resonance stabilization of the intermediate radical
Cl
Cl2
R'OCH 2R" R'OCHR" R'O=CHR R'OCHClR" + Cl , etc.

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