Structure and Properties of Ethers

In the previous chapter, we saw that alcohols have relatively high boiling points due to the effects of intermolecular hydrogen bonding. 

An ether can act as a hydrogen bond acceptor and can interact with the proton of an alcohol. 

However, ethers cannot function as hydrogen bond donors, and therefore, ethers cannot form hydrogen bonds with each other. As a result, the boiling points of ethers are significandy lower than their isomeric alcohols. 

In fact, the boiling point of dimethyl ether is almost as low as the boiling point of propane. Both dimethyl ether and propane lack the ability to form hydrogen bonds. The slightly higher boiling point of dimethyl ether can be explained by considering the net dipole moment. 

These individual dipole moments produce a net dipole moment 

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Introduction to Ethers Nomenclature of Ethers Structure and Properties of Ethers Crown Ethers Preparation of Ethers Reactions of Ethers Nomenclature of Epoxides Preparation of Epoxides Enantioselective Epoxidation Ring-Opening Reactions of Epoxides Thiols and Sulfides... 

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