14.3 Reactions of Ethers

14.3 Reactions of Ethers

• Under basic or mildly acidic conditions, ethers are unreactive.
• The bonds are broken under strongly acidic conditions.

• The R groups are released as alkyl halides and the oxygen atom is released as water as a result of the reaction.

• A tertiary alkyl group is cleaved via an S 1 pathway.

• Each C--O bond is cleaved via a different mechanism after treatment with HX.

• The oxonium ion is attacked by a halide in an S 2 process.