<Tr> <Td> Organic Chemistry Portal </Td> <Td> williamson - synthesis </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> RSC ontology ID </Td> <Td> RXNO: 0000090 </Td> </Tr> <P> The Williamson ether synthesis is an organic reaction, forming an ether from an organohalide and a deprotonated alcohol (alkoxide). This reaction was developed by Alexander Williamson in 1850 . Typically it involves the reaction of an alkoxide ion with a primary alkyl halide via an S 2 reaction . This reaction is important in the history of organic chemistry because it helped prove the structure of ethers . </P> <P> The general reaction mechanism is as follows: </P>

The williamson ether synthesis produces ethers by reacting an