Question

Describe the action of hot concentrated HI on : 

(i) Dialkyl ether 

(ii) Alkyl aryl ether.

Answer 1

Ether reacts with excess of hot concentrated hydrogen halide to give two alkyl halide molecules.

R – O – R + HX → RX + R – OH 

R – OH + HX → RX + H₂O

Alkyl aryl ether reacts with hot concentrated hydrogen halide to give phenol and alkyl halide.

Ethers with two different alkyl groups react with hot.conc. HI to give alkyl halides. 

R – O – R'+ 2H – X → R – X + R' – X + H₂O 

The order of reactivity of HX is HI > HBr > HCI