Question

Write the equations involved in the following reaction.

Williamson ether synthesis.

Answer 1

Williamson ether synthesis is used for the preparation of simple as well as mixed ethers.
Alkyl halide reacts with alcoholic sodium or potassium alkoxide to form ether.

$R-O-Na+R^{\prime }-X\stackrel{\Delta }{\to }R-O-R^{\prime }+NaX$

For example, sodium methoxide reacts with methyl iodide to form dimethyl

ether.
$C{H}_3-O-Na+C{H}_3-I\stackrel{\Delta }{\to }C{H}_3-O-C{H}_3+NaI$