Ethers

Ethers are commonly used in manufacturing. 


Ethers have a definite bond angles of 104.5 degrees and have low boiling points. 

There general structure is:


Each 'R' represents a Carbon chain.  They are not necessarily the same.  They are connected by an Oxygen atom which is single bonded to both of them.

Rules for naming:
1) Identify the longest Carbon chain attatched to the Oxygen.  Name it.
2) Take the other chain and treat it like an alkyl group.  However, first take off the'yl' and add 'oxy'

Fairly simple and straightforward for once!!! So let's do a harder example right away!

Find the longest chain, butane.  Then there is the ether, which is not located on the first Carbon.  However, the side group is still methyl.  So the molecule is 2-methoxybutane!