Ethers can be prepared by Williamson synthesis in which an alkyl halide is reacted with sodium alkoxide. Explain why di-tert-butyl ether can’t be prepared by this method.
Di tertiary butyl ether cannot be prepared by this method because when we take tertiary butyl halide then elimination competes over substitution. Due to this only an alkene is formed and no ether is obtained.
(CH)3CO-Na+ + (CH3)3CCl → (CH3)2C=CH2
No ether is formed as a product.