Alkoxy group
In chemistry, the alkoxy group is an alkyl group which is singularly bonded to oxygen; thus R−O. The range of alkoxy groups is vast, the simplest being methoxy (CH3O−).[1] An ethoxy group (CH3CH2O−) is found in the organic compound ethyl phenyl ether (C6H5OCH2CH3, also known as ethoxybenzene).
![](../I/Alkoxy_group.svg.png.webp)
![](../I/Aryloxygruppe_structural_formulae_v.1.png.webp)
Related to alkoxy groups are aryloxy groups, which have an aryl group singularly bonded to oxygen such as the phenoxy group (C6H5O−).
An alkoxy or aryloxy group bonded to an alkyl or aryl (R−O−R') is an ether. If bonded to H it is an alcohol.
An alkoxide can refer to salts of alcohols, and they are ionic compounds containing an alkoxide ions RO−; it is a derivative of an alcohol where the hydrogen of the –OH group is replaced by a metal,[2] for example sodium salt of ethanol (CH3CH2OH) is sodium ethoxide, containing ethoxide anions CH3CH2O− and sodium cations Na+.
References
- "alkoxy group chemistry - trainingstrategies.co.uk". trainingstrategies.co.uk. 2022-03-24. Retrieved 2022-08-06.
- Wade, Leroy G. (1998-07-20). "ether | chemical compound | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-06. Retrieved 2022-08-06.