Methods of preparing diethyl ether:
(i) Williamson's Synthesis:
Heating alkyl halides with sodium or potassium alkoxide given diethyl ether.
C2H5Br+NaOC2H5⟶C2H5−O−C2H5+NaBr
(ii) Intermolecular dehydration of alcohol:
When excess of alcohol is heated with conc. H2SO4
or H3PO4, two molecules condense losing a molecule of water forming ether.
C2H5−OH+H−O−C2H5413K−−−−−−−−→conc.3H2SO4C2H5−O−C2H5
(iii) From alkyl halides:
When excess of alcohol is heated with conc. H2SO4 or H3PO4, two molecules condense losing a molecule of water forming ether.
C2H5−I+Ag2O+I−C2H5Δ−→C2H5−O−C2H5+2AgI