General information

In chemistry, ethers are organic compounds that have an ether group – an oxygen atom substituted by two organyl radicals – as a functional group. Because of their ambivalent character, most ethers are excellent solvents and dissolve many water-insoluble compounds.Most ethers are relatively inert and are therefore often used as solvents in preparative organic chemistry.

Since higher ethers can form poor hydrogen bonds due to increasing steric hindrance, the aqueous solubility decreases rapidly with increasing size of the alkyl group.

Areas of application

Industrially important ethers include tetrahydrofuran (THF) and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE).

THF belongs to the class of cyclic ethers and is used, among other things, as a solvent for PVC, polystyrene, polyurethanes, cellulose nitrate, adhesives and paints. In addition, it is an important precursor in the synthesis of polytetrahydrofuran.

MTBE is one of the aliphatic ethers and is used, for example, in unleaded petrol as a substitute for tetraethyl lead. Like tetraethyl lead, it serves to reduce the knocking tendency of petrol engines.

Please support us

We would be happy to receive your comments and suggestions on the practical applications of these category products. We would greatly appreciate your help and support. Your MCAS team.

Test our services

As your distribution partner for chemicals and chemical products, we offer you only the best products for your production processes. Our extensive portfolio of products and services should help to simplify your work processes and, in particular, to shorten the procurement time for products and raw materials. Our goal is to support you, especially in the currently tense political and economic situation, in effectively meeting current and future requirements and challenges.