Dipropyl ether preparation

Write a structural equation showing how dipropyl ether might be prepared from an alcohol. 

Formation of a symmetrical sulphide (a) (e.g. dipropyl sulphide, Expt 5.204), is conveniently effected by boiling an alkyl halide (the source of carbocations) with sodium sulphide in ethanolic solution. Mixed sulphides (b) are prepared by alkylation of a thiolate salt (a mercaptide) with an alkyl halide (cf. Williamson s ether synthesis, Section 5.6.2, p. 583). In the case of an alkyl aryl sulphide (R-S Ar) where the aromatic ring contains activating nitro groups (see Section 6.5.3, p. 900), the aryl halide is used with the alkyl thiolate salt. The alternative alkylation of a substituted thiophenol is described in Section 8.3.4, p. 1160. The former procedure is illustrated by the preparation of isobutyl 2,4-dinitrophenyl sulphide (Expt 5.205) from l-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 2-methylpropane-1-thiol. 

Diethyl and dipropyl poh O.Mymethylene ethers ha e been prepared by Staiidinger and his co-worker.s by adding sulfuric acid to foimaldehyde solution containing eth d and propyl alcohol, follotring the same technique as eniplo> ed in making gamma-polyoxymethylene. 

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