alkoxide

chemical compound

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June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

An alkoxide is a basic salt derived from an alcohol by replacing the hydroxyl hydrogen with a metal. Alcohols are weak acids, and a strong base can deprotonate an alcohol to form an alkoxide ion (R-O⁻). For instance, metallic sodium or potassium can be used to create an alkoxide by reducing the proton to hydrogen gas.12

Alkoxides are useful reagents in organic synthesis. A common method for creating ethers, known as the Williamson ether synthesis, involves the attack of an alkoxide ion on an alkyl halide.2

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alcohol
Acidity of alcohols: formation of alkoxides
Alcohols are weak acids. The most acidic simple alcohols (methanol and ethanol) are about as acidic as water, and most other alcohols are somewhat less acidic.
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Alcohols are weak acids. The most acidic simple alcohols (methanol and ethanol) are about as acidic as water, and most other alcohols are somewhat less acidic.
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ether
Williamson ether synthesis
It uses an alkoxide ion to attack an alkyl halide, substituting the alkoxy (―O―R) group for the halide. The alkyl halide must be unhindered (usually primary), or elimination will compete with the desired substitution.
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It uses an alkoxide ion to attack an alkyl halide, substituting the alkoxy (―O―R) group for the halide. The alkyl halide must be unhindered (usually primary), or elimination will compete with the desired substitution.
Read More