IUPAC Nomenclature of Ethers

An ether is IUPAC-named by treating the smaller alkyl/aryl group (with its oxygen) as an ALKOXY or ARYLOXY substituent prefix on the parent chain formed by the larger group. Worked examples: dimethyl ether, CH3-O-CH3, becomes methoxymethane; isopropyl methyl ether, CH3-O-CH(CH3)-CH3, becomes 2-methoxypropane; tert-butyl methyl ether, CH3-O-C(CH3)3, becomes 2-methoxy-2-methylpropane; methylphenyl ether (anisole), C6H5-O-CH3, becomes methoxybenzene; ethylphenyl ether (phenetole), C6H5-O-CH2CH3, becomes ethoxybenzene; diphenyl ether, C6H5-O-C6H5, becomes phenoxybenzene; n-heptylphenyl ether becomes 1-phenoxyheptane; isopentylphenyl ether becomes 3-methyl-1-butoxybenzene; and …