Ethers

An oxygen bridge between carbon groups, including many useful solvents.

Functional group
C-O-C
Also known as
ether, alkoxy compounds, dialkyl ethers, aryl alkyl ethers

Overview

An oxygen bridge between carbon groups, including many useful solvents.

Ethers have an R-O-R′ linkage. The ether linkage contains no O-H bond. Molecules without an additional hydrogen-bond donor group cannot donate an alcohol-type hydrogen bond. Many tolerate ordinary bases and dilute acids, making them useful solvents; strongly acidic cleavage and the special case of strained epoxides need separate treatment.

Identifiers

Functional group
C-O-C
Also known as
ether, alkoxy compounds, dialkyl ethers, aryl alkyl ethers

Properties

Ether or ester
An ether oxygen is not directly attached to an acyl carbon; R-C(=O)-O-R′ is an ester.
Storage chemistry
Some ethers form peroxides on exposure to air; solvent stability is not an unlimited storage guarantee.

Related compounds

  • Dimethyl ether

    Dimethyl ether is a specific member of the ethers family.

  • Diethyl ether

    Diethyl ether is a specific member of the ethers family.

  • Anisole

    Anisole is a specific member of the ethers family.

  • Tetrahydrofuran

    Tetrahydrofuran is a specific member of the ethers family.

  • 1,4-Dioxane

    1,4-Dioxane is a specific member of the ethers family.

  • 1,2-Dimethoxyethane

    1,2-Dimethoxyethane is a specific member of the ethers family.

  • Methyl tert-butyl ether

    Methyl tert-butyl ether is a specific member of the ethers family.

  • Vanillin

    Vanillin is an organic compound with the molecular formula C8H8O3.

  • Eugenol

    Eugenol is an organic compound with the molecular formula C10H12O2.

  • Oxirane

    The smallest epoxide, with two carbon atoms and one oxygen in a three-membered ring.

  • Propylene oxide

    A methyl-substituted epoxide with two nonequivalent ring carbons.

References

  1. Organic Chemistry: Names and Properties of EthersJohn McMurry · OpenStax Organic Chemistry · 2023

    Supports functional-group chemistry used to curate the linked examples. Checked 2026-09-16; named examples are applications of textbook scope, without claimed experimental yields.

  2. PubChem Compound Summary: Dimethyl ether (CID 8254)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  3. PubChem Compound Summary: Diethyl ether (CID 3283)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  4. PubChem Compound Summary: Anisole (CID 7519)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  5. PubChem Compound Summary: Tetrahydrofuran (CID 8028)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  6. PubChem Compound Summary: 1,4-Dioxane (CID 31275)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  7. PubChem Compound Summary: 1,2-Dimethoxyethane (CID 8071)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  8. PubChem Compound Summary: Methyl tert-butyl ether (CID 15413)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  9. PubChem Compound Summary: Vanillin (CID 1183)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  10. PubChem Compound Summary: Eugenol (CID 3314)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.

  11. PubChem Compound Summary: Oxirane (CID 6354)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and selected English aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-16. Chinese search names are curated nomenclature translations. Unspecified stereochemistry remains unspecified.

  12. PubChem Compound Summary: Propylene oxide (CID 6378)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem

    Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and selected English aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-16. Chinese search names are curated nomenclature translations. Unspecified stereochemistry remains unspecified.