Chapter 2: Synthetic Methods for Dialkyl Ethers

Dialkyl ethers are an important class of compounds with an extensive range of applications, including biologically relevant molecules such as active pharmaceutical agents and natural products. Various methods of ether synthesis, from the traditional Williamson synthesis and dehydration of alcohols to recent developments in C–H functionalization, have remained a common focus for classical and contemporary method development. The chapter summarizes recent advances in the preparation of dialkyl ethers. Valuable for chemists, materials scientists, chemical engineers, and others, this chapter offers a unique overview of this growing area and its future possibilities.