WILLIAMSON ETHER SYNTHESIS

This involves the treatment of a sodium alkoxide with an alkyl halide sodium alkoxides are obtained by treating alcohols with sodium metal  (ROH + Na à RONa + H_{2 )}

both symmetrical and unsymmetrical ethers can be made by this method.

Mechanism:-

The williamson synthesis involves a displacement of halide ion from an alkyl halide by an alkoxide. it follows SN² mechanism 

The alkyl halide used in this reaction must be primary. if secondary or tertiary alkyl halides are used, the reaction leads mainly to alkene formation.

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