Distinctive Ether Structure

• The ethers are organic (carbon-based) compounds containing the carbon-to-oxygen-to carbon, or --C--O--C-- linkage. Dehydrating two molecules of alcohol produces an ether linkage.
  
  

Ethyl Group

• The ethyl group is written C2H5-- or --C2H5. Ethyl alcohol is written C2H5OH or C2H5--OH. It is a product of sugar fermentation. Ethyl alcohol is the variety of alcohol found in wine, beer and distilled spirits.
  
  

Diethyl Ether

• Ordinary ether is called diethyl ether because it is made from two ethyl groups united by an ether linkage (described above).
  
  One way to form it is by the following sequence of reactions:
  
  Sugars, fermented --> C2H5-OH (ethyl alcohol)
  
  2 C2H5-OH --> (C2H5)--O--(C2H5) + H2O
  
  Diethyl ether can also be written: (C2H5)₂O
  
  

Anhydrous

• Diethyl ether is made anhydrous by the removal of all traces of water. Non-reactive dehydrating agents are used to accomplish this. Historically, sulfuric acid was the dehydrating agent of choice. Sulfuric acid also removes dangerous peroxides, which are explosive components containing the linkage --C--O--O--C--.
  
  

Another Preparative Methodology

• Although anhydrous diethyl ether can be made by the dehydration of ethyl alcohol using alumina, it can also be manufactured using the vapor-phase hydration of ethylene:
  
  H2C=CH2 + H--O--H + H2C=CH2 --> (C2H5)--O--(C2H5).