Ethers are inert to most reaction conditions. They do however react with radicals, e.g.
in halogenations and they can coordinate to metal atoms in alkyl lithium reagents or
Grignard reagents. Ethers are also weak bases and are protonated by strong acids such
as sulphuric acid or hydrogen chloride.
Ethers have a tendency to form peroxides when exposed to oxygen and
light. The peroxides are less volatile than the corresponding ethers and are
concentrated when the ethers are evaporated. Peroxides are highly explosive!
All ethers should be tested for the absence of peroxides before use.
Physical properties
| Name | CAS Nr |
Formula | Mw |
Mp (°C) |
Bp (°C) | ρ (g/ml) |
Vapour pressure
(Torr) |
Evaporation rate
(rel. ether) |
Surface tension |
Viscosity |
| diethyl ether | 60-29-7 | C4H10O | 74.12 | -116 | 35 | 0.713 | 442 | 1.0 | 17.1 | 0.2 | | dipropyl ether | 111-43-3 | C6H14O | 102.18 | -122 | 90 | 0.700 | | | | | | diisopropyl ether | 108-20-3 | C6H14O | 102.18 | -86 | 68 | 0.724 | 123 | 1.6 | 18.0 | 0.3 | | methyl t-butyl ether | 1634-04-4 | C5H12O | 88.15 | -109 | 55 | 0.741 | 240 | 1.6 | 19.4 | 0.3 | | dibutyl ether | 142-96-1 | C8H18O | 130.23 | -95 | 142 | 0.769 | 6 | | 1.4 | 0.6 | | anisol | 100-66-3 | C7H8O | 108.14 | -37 | 154 | 0.990 | | | | | | dibenzyl ether | 103-50-4 | C14H14O | 198.26 | 3 | 297 | 1.044 | | | 39.8 | | | tetrahydrofuran | 109-99-9 | C4H8O | 72.11 | -108 | 66 | 0.888 | 142 | 2.3 | 26.4 | 0.6 | | dioxane | 123-91-1 | C4H8O2 | 88.11 | 12 | 101 | 1.034 | 29 | 7.3 | 34.5 | 1.4 |
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