Ethers

Structure

Common Name

IUPAC name

CH₃CH₂-O-CH₂CH₃

Diethyl ether

Ethoxyethane

Ethyl phenyl ether

Ethoxybenzene

Diphenyl ether

Phenoxybenzene

All ethers, whether aromatic and alkyl, contain an oxygen bonded to two carbons (C—O—C).  Common names include the names for each alkyl or aryl group, followed by ether (e.g., ethyl methyl ether or methyl phenyl ether).  IUPAC naming uses the longest carbon chain as the root name, preceded by the attached group (e.g., methoxy, ethoxy,