Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols

Naming Ethers

Organic Chemistry

12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols

Naming Ethers

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1:58 minutes

Problem 22a(3,4)

Textbook Question

What is each ether’s systematic name?
3.
4.

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Identify the longest carbon chain in the molecule that contains the ether functional group (R-O-R). This chain will serve as the parent chain for naming the compound.

Step 2: Determine the substituents attached to the parent chain. For ethers, the alkoxy group (-O-R) is treated as a substituent, and its name is derived from the alkyl group attached to the oxygen atom.

Step 3: Number the parent chain starting from the end closest to the ether functional group to ensure the lowest possible locant for the substituent.

Step 4: Assign locants to all substituents and list them in alphabetical order in the systematic name. Use prefixes like 'methoxy-' or 'ethoxy-' for the alkoxy group, and include other substituents such as methyl groups.

Step 5: Combine the locants, substituent names, and parent chain name into the full systematic name, ensuring proper punctuation and formatting (e.g., hyphens between numbers and names, commas between multiple locants).

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Ethers

Ethers are a class of organic compounds characterized by an oxygen atom bonded to two alkyl or aryl groups. They have the general formula R-O-R', where R and R' represent the hydrocarbon chains. Ethers are commonly used as solvents and in the synthesis of other organic compounds. Understanding their structure is essential for determining their systematic names.

IUPAC Nomenclature

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) nomenclature provides a systematic method for naming chemical compounds. For ethers, the naming convention typically involves identifying the longest carbon chain and using the suffix 'ether' after naming the two alkyl groups attached to the oxygen. Familiarity with IUPAC rules is crucial for accurately naming organic compounds.

Functional Groups

Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that are responsible for the characteristic chemical reactions of those molecules. In the case of ethers, the functional group is the ether linkage (R-O-R'). Recognizing functional groups helps in predicting the behavior of compounds and is vital for systematic naming in organic chemistry.

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