Chapter 4 - Monohydric Alcohols, their Ethers and Esters

Abstract

The monohydric alcohols can be regarded as being derived from water by replacement of one hydrogen atom by an alkyl group. If both hydrogen atoms in water are so substituted, the ethers are obtained. This chapter discusses the formation and preparation, properties, and typical reactions of monohydric alcohols, including reactions distinguishing primary, secondary and tertiary alcohols. The most important monohydric alcohols are methyl alcohol, CH 3 0H and ethyl alcohol, C 2 H 5 0H. Ethyl alcohol is produced by fermentation for industrial usage as well as in the preparation of alcoholic beverages. The important derivatives of saturated alcohols include alkoxides, halogenohydrins (halohydrins), and nitroalkanols. Ethers may be regarded as anhydrides of the alcohols, formed by the elimination of water from two molecules of the alcohol. They comprise saturated ethers or dialkyl ethers, substituted dialkyl ethers, such as halogenoalkyl ethers, nitrodialkyl ethers, and unsaturated ethers. Alkyl peroxides are derivatives of hydrogen peroxide, in which one or both of the hydrogen atoms is substituted by an alkyl group giving rise to alkyl hydroperoxides and dialkyl peroxides, respectively. Esters of mineral or inorganic acids may be regarded as derivatives of alcohols, in which the hydroxylic hydrogen atom is replaced by an acid radical.