Ether

Ethers ( /ˈiːθər/) are a class of organic compounds that contain an ether group â€” an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups — of general formula R–O–R’.^[1] A typical example is thesolvent and anesthetic diethyl ether, commonly referred to simply as “ether” (CH₃-CH₂-O-CH₂-CH₃). Ethers are common in organic chemistry and pervasive in biochemistry, as they are common linkages in carbohydrates and lignin.