Ethers, Eloxide And Thioethers

Question 1

What are ethers ?

Answer 1

Compounds of formula R-O-R’ where R and R’ can be alkyl groups or aryl groups

Question 2

What are the applications of ether ?

Answer 2

Good solvent for reactions and extractions
Volatile starting fluid for diesel and gasoline engines
Surgical anesthetic but highly flammable

Question 3

What is the structure of ethers?

Answer 3

A bent structure with an sp3 hybrid oxygen atom giving a nearly tetrahedral bond angle

Question 4

What is the bond angle of dimethyl ether ?

Answer 4

110

Question 5

What is the physical property of ethers ?

Answer 5

Question 6

Ethers are ideally suited as solvents for what ?

Answer 6

Many organic reactions as they dissolve a wide range of polar and non polar substances

Question 7

Non polar substances tend to be more soluble in what ?

Answer 7

Ethers because they don’t have hydrogen bonding network to be broken up by the non polar molecule

Question 8

What are epoxides?

Answer 8

Three-membered cyclic ethers, usually formed by peroxyacid oxidation of the corresponding alkenes

Question 9

What is the least common cyclic ether?

Answer 9

Oxetanes → four-membered

Question 10

What is oxolane ?

Answer 10

Five-membered ring containing an oxygen atom

Question 11

What is the difference between tetrahydrofuran and furan ?

Answer 11

The saturated five-membered cyclic ether has four additional hydrogen atoms

Question 12

What is the application of tetrahydrofuran ?

Answer 12

Non-hydroxylic organic solvent for polar reagents

Question 13

What is pyran (oxane)?

Answer 13

Six-membered cyclic ether containing an oxygen atom

Question 14

What are dioxanes

Answer 14

Heterocyclic ethers with two oxygen atoms in six-membered ring

Question 15

What is the least expensive method for synthesizing simple symmetrical ethers ?

Answer 15

Acid catalyzed bimolecular condensation

Question 16

What is cleavage of ether reaction ?

Answer 16

Ethers heated with HBr or HI to give alkyl bromides or alkyl iodides

Question 17

What is autoxidation reaction ?

Answer 17

Question 18

Answer 18

Autoxidation

Question 19

What are thioethers ?

Answer 19

Ethers with a sulfur atom replacing the oxygen atom
Also called sulfides

Question 20

What is the difference between thioethers and ethers?

Answer 20

Thioethers can undergo oxidation and alkylation of the sulfur atom

Question 21

What is the acidity of thioethers ?

Answer 21

Question 22

What is reactivity of thioethers ?

Answer 22

Question 23

What is the application of ethers?

Answer 23

Anesthetic
Radioactive cleanup