Reflection

Return to Aryl Ethers Home Return to Carbocations Home

Student A According to Lin, et al. (2004), aryloxyacetic acids are used in agriculture as herbicides and plant growth regulators. They are also intermediates or end products used in medicine and in making fragrances. Ethers in general are widely used in veterinary medicine. For example, sevoflurane (2,2,2-trifluoro-1-[trifluoromethyl]ethyl fluoromethyl ether) is used at the veterinary practice I work at (Clark-N-Oak Animal Health Center) for induction and maintenance of animals under general anesthesia. This particular anesthetic is also used in human medicine. The sevoflurane anesthetic used at Clark-N-Oak is often coupled with Propofol (a phenol: diisopropylphenol) for more effective anesthesia. Propofol is widely used in veterinary medicine in general. On a side note, Propofol is also the drug that Michael Jackson overdosed on, leading to his death. It is interesting that we are learning how to synthesize classes of compounds that connect so closely to the field that I am interested in!

Student B As a biology major, I was interested in how aryl ethers could be used and/or have an impact on living organisms. After searching for research articles online, I found one that describes a use for aryl ether derivates in medicine. The researchers first synthesized and characterized some new aryl ethers. The aryl ethers and aryl ether derivates were then evaluated for anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity. The study found that several of the compounds tested did indeed have an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect. Almost all people have taken, ibuprofen or aspirin at some point in their lives for there pain relief and anti-inflammatory effects. Perhaps in the future, we will be taking aryl ether derivates to get these effects. Reference: P. Rashmi, Gopal Krishna Rao, Kshama Devi, B. G. Shivananda, G. R. Swetha, and G. A. Suneetha, “Novel Aryl Ether Derivatives as Antiinflammatory and Analgesics,” //E-Journal of Chemistry//, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 1401-1407, 2011. doi:10.1155/2011/545403 [|www.hindawi.com/journals/chem/2011/545403/cta]

Student C The Williamson ether synthesis technique used in this lab is the predominant method of ether synthesis in the chemical industry. Ethers are frequently used in the chemistry laboratory as solvents and catalysts (crown ethers). Ethers also used to be used in medicine as a general anesthetic, however today they have been replaced by substances such as Propofol. There are other less known uses of ethers as well. Diethyl ether is used as an ignition fuel in diesel and gasoline engines. Diethyl ether has also been shown to alter the metabolism of NDMA, a carcinogen, in rats so that it is cleared more quickly from the body (1). It is believed that this can be extended to other metabolic processes. For a future career in medicine, it is important for me to understand studies such as these, as well as the biological reactions of ethers, since they are so prevelant in the molecular machinery of the human body.

1. Keefer LK, et al. Inhibition of N-Nitrosodimethylamine Metabolism in Rats by Ether Anesthesia. CANCER RESEARCH 45, 5457-5460, November 1985