Primary alcohols ether synthesis from

Mechanism of Ether Synthesis from Primary Alcohols Protonation and Sn2... 

Acidic clays are widely applied in the dehydration of alcohols [38]. Although similar to zeolites in their capacity to induce the formation of both alkenes and ethers, selective alkene synthesis is possible. Various layered materials (clays, ion-exchanged montmorillonite, pillared layered clays) are very active and, in general, selective in transforming primary, secondary, and tertiary aliphatic alcohols to 1-alkenes [39-43]. Al -exchanged montmorillonite, however, induces ether formation from primary alcohols and 2-propanol [41]. Substituted 1-phenyl-1-ethanols yield the corresponding styrene derivatives at high temperature (653-673 K) [44]. 

The least expensive method for synthesizing simple symmetrical ethers is the acid-catalyzed bimolecular condensation (joining of two molecules, often with loss of a small molecule like water), discussed in Section 11-10B. Unimolecular dehydration (to give an alkene) competes with bimolecular condensation. To form an ether, the alcohol must have an unhindered primary alkyl group, and the temperature must not be allowed to rise too high. If the alcohol is hindered or the temperature is too high, the delicate balance between substitution and elimination shifts in favor of elimination, and very little ether is formed. Bimolecular condensation is used in industry to make symmetrical ethers from primary alcohols. Because the condensation is so limited in its scope, it finds little use in the laboratory synthesis of ethers. 

Acid-catalyzed condensation of alcohols (Sections 15.7 and 16.5) Two molecules of an alcohol condense in the presence of an acid catalyst to yield a dialkyl ether and water. The reaction is limited to the synthesis of symmetrical ethers from primary alcohols. 

Symmetrical Ether Synthesis from a Primary Alcohol with Strong Acid... 

Picolyl ethers are prepared from their chlorides by a Williamson ether synthesis (68-83% yield). Some selectivity for primary versus secondary alcohols can be achieved (ratios = 4.3-4.6 1). They are cleaved electrolytically ( — 1.4 V, 0.5 M HBF4, MeOH, 70% yield). Since picolyl chlorides are unstable as the free base, they must be generated from the hydrochloride prior to use. These derivatives are relatively stable to acid (CF3CO2H, HF/anisole). Cleavage can also be effected by hydrogenolysis in acetic acid. ... 

Picolyl ethers are prepared from their chlorides by a Williamson ether synthesis (68-83% yield). Some selectivity for primary vs. secondary alcohols can be achieved (ratios = 4.3-4.6 1). Picolyl ethers are cleaved electrolytically ( —1.4 V,... 

With a secure route to pentacyclic amine 2, the completion of the total synthesis of 1 requires only a few functional group manipulations. When a solution of 2 in ethanol is exposed to Pd-C in an atmosphere of hydrogen, the isopropenyl double bond is saturated. When a small quantity of HCI is added to this mixture, the hydro-genolysis of the benzyl ether is accelerated dramatically, giving alcohol 15 in a yield of 96%. Oxidation of the primary alcohol in 15 with an excess of Jones reagent, followed by Fischer esterification, gives ( )-methyl homosecodaphniphyllate [( )-1] in an overall yield of 85 % from 2. 

Tojo and co-workers reported a one-pot synthesis of alkyl nitrates from alcohols via the alkyl iodide the alcohol is treated with a mixture of iodine, triphenylphosphine and imidazole in diethyl ether-acetonitrile, and the resulting alkyl iodide is reacted in situ with silver nitrate (Equation 3.8). Reported yields for primary alcohols are good to excellent but yields are lower for secondary alcohols. 

A concise synthesis of tetra-O-ethyl aldonolactam 83 starting from 1 has been reported [102]. After protection of its primary alcoholic moiety as a trityl ether, saponification and treatment with EtBr generated 80. Acidic hydrolysis liberated 81 that was esterified (tosylate). The latter was displaced with NaNs to give azide 82. Reduction of 82 resulted in lactam 83 (Scheme 24). 

Ethers are prepared from alkyl halides by the treatment of metal alkoxide. This is known as Williamson ether synthesis (see Sections 4.3.6 and 5.5.2). Williamson ether synthesis is an important laboratory method for the preparation of both symmetrical and unsymmetrical ethers. Symmetrical ethers are prepared by dehydration of two molecules of primary alcohols and H2SO4 (see Sections 4.3.7 and 5.5.3). Ethers are also obtained from alkenes either by acid-catalysed addition of alcohols or alkoxymercuration-reduction (see Section 5.3.1). 

---