Alkylations en absence de solvant organique—3 : Preparation d'ethers aliphatiques par alkylation des alcoolates dans des conditions douces et economiques

n-Octyl ethers are obtained by reacting n-octyl halides with preformed alkoxides, or better, prepared in situ from ROH and solid KOH. Reactions are performed without any solvent but in the presence of a catalytic amount of tetra-alkyl ammonium salt (Aliquat 336). Good yields (?92% for primary R) are obtained at moderate temperatures and with easy work-up; for t-C₄H₉O-, elimination is a side reaction, and the effects of temperature and of the nature of the leaving group were examined, so that t-C₄H₉OC₈H₁₇ could then be obtained (yield 77%) within 20 h at 36° from n-octyl tosylate.