Williamson synthesis is a laboratory method for preparing symmetrical and unsymmetrical ethers by reacting alkyl halides with sodium alkoxide. It is especially effective for ethers containing substituted alkyl groups, and better results are obtained when the alkyl halide is primary.
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Williamson synthesis is a method for preparing ethers by reacting an alkoxide ion with an alkyl halide. The key reaction involves nucleophilic substitution, resulting in the formation of an ether. In practice, an alkoxide ion is generated from an alcohol by treating it with a strong base. This alkoxide ion then reacts with an alkyl halide to produce the desired ether. Williamson synthesis is a widely used and efficient approach for the preparation of ethers and is applicable to a variety of alkyl halides and alcohols.