Organic 16: Ethers, Epoxides, and Sulfides

Question 1

Ethers

Answer 1

compounds containing a C-O-C unit; undergo relatively few chemical reactions; valuable as solvents in a number of synthetically important transformations

Question 2

Epoxides

Answer 2

compounds in which the C-O-C unit forms a 3-membered ring; very reactive

Question 3

Sulfides

Answer 3

RSR’; sulfur analogs of ethers

Question 4

Williamson ether synthesis

Answer 4

long-standing method for the preparation of ethers; nucleophilic substitution of an alkyl halide by an alkoxide gives the carbon-oxygen bond of an ether