Ethers and Amines

Ethers

Ether, any of a class of organic compounds characterized by an oxygen atom bonded to

two alkyl or aryl groups. Ethers are similar in structure to alcohols, and both ethers and
alcohols are similar in structure to water. In an alcohol one hydrogen atom of a
water molecule is replaced by an alkyl group, whereas in an ether both hydrogen atoms
are replaced by alkyl or aryl groups.
At room temperature, ethers are pleasant-smelling colourless liquids. Relative to
alcohols, ethers are generally less dense, are less soluble in water, and have
lower boiling points.
Common names of ethers simply give the names of the two alkyl groups bonded to
oxygen and add the word ether. Electron-deficient reagents are also stabilized by
ethers. 

Reactions
Cleavage
Ethers are good solvents partly because they are not very reactive. Most ethers can
be cleaved, however, by hydrobromic acid (HBr) to give alkyl bromides or by hydroiodic
acid (HI) to give alkyl iodides.
Autoxidation
Autoxidation is the spontaneous oxidation of a compound in air. In the presence
of oxygen, ethers slowly autoxidize to form hydroperoxides and dialkyl peroxides. If
concentrated or heated, these peroxides may explode. To prevent such explosions,
ethers should be obtained in small quantities, kept in tightly sealed containers, and used
promptly.
Uses

They are relatively unreactive, and as a result they are useful as solvents for fats,
oils, waxes, perfumes, resins, dyes, gums, and hydrocarbons. Vapours of certain ethers
are used as insecticides, miticides, and fumigants for soil.

Ethers are also important in medicine and pharmacology, especially for use
as anesthetics. Codeine, a potent pain-relieving drug, is the methyl ether of morphine.
Because ether is highly flammable, it has largely been replaced by less-flammable
anesthetics, including nitrous oxide (N2O) and halothane (CF3−CHClBr).

Ethyl ether is an excellent solvent for extractions and for a wide variety of chemical

reactions. It is also used as a volatile starting fluid for diesel engines and gasolin
engines in cold weather. Dimethyl ether is used as a spray propellant and refrigerant.

(https://www.britannica.com/science/)

Amines

In amines, the hydrogen atoms in the ammonia have been replaced one at a time by

hydrocarbon groups. On this page, we are only looking at cases where the hydrocarbon

groups are simple alkyl groups. Amines fall into different classes depending on how

many of the hydrogen atoms are replaced.

(https://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/amines/background.html)

Amines are generally organized into categories based on their bonding environments.
Amines that have one of their three hydrogen atoms replaced by an alkyl or aromatic
substituent are referred to as primary amines. Secondary amines are those that have
two substituents and one hydrogen bonded to a nitrogen. Tertiary amines are amines
whose hydrogens have been completely replaced by organic substituents. Finally, cyclic
amines are those in which the nitrogen has been incorporated into a ring structure,
effectively making it either a secondary or tertiary amine.

(https://courses.lumenlearning.com/introchem/chapter/amines/)

Uses

Aromatic amines are mainly used as a starting material for the production of azo dyes.
As azo-compounds are highly coloured, they are used broadly in dyeing industries, like:
Methyl orange, Direct brown 138, Sunset yellow FCF and Ponceau.

Many drugs are designed for mimicing or to interfere with the action of natural amine
neurotransmitters, can be exemplified by the amine drugs:

Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine which helps to relieve allergic disorders caused

due to cold, hay fever, itchy skin, insect bites and stings. Chlorpromazine is a
tranquillizer which it is used to relieve anxiety, excitement, restlessness and sometimes
even mental disorder. Ephedrine and Phenylephrine in form of amine hydrochlorides,
are used as decongestants. Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, and Methcathinone are
amines which are listed as controlled substances by the DEA (diethanolamine).
Amitriptyline, Imipramine, Lofepramine and Clomipramine are tricyclic anti-depressants
and tertiary amines. Nortriptyline, Desipramine, and Amoxapine are tricyclic anti-
depressants and secondary amines.

Aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA), diglycolamine (DGA), diethanolamine (DEA),

diisopropanolamine (DIPA) and methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) are used broadly in
industries for removing carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from natural
gas streams and also from refinery process streams. They may also be helpful in
removing CO2 from combustion gases / flue gases and may have got potential for
abatement of greenhouse gases.

(https://www.tutorvista.com/chemistry/uses-of-amines)