Question

Which of the following are the names of cyclic ether?
(A) Oxirane
(B) Epoxy Alkane
(C) Alkene oxide
(D) Indole-3-carbinol

Answer 1

Hint: Cyclic ethers are those ethers in which the oxygen atom is attached to two alkyl groups and those alkyl groups are attached to each other, so first write the structure of the given compound and find which all satisfy the above condition.

Complete step by step answer:
Cyclic ethers are ethers in which oxygen atoms are attached to alkyl groups and these alkyl groups will connect themselves to form a cyclic system. So, if we can write the structure of the given compounds we can say which is or are cyclic ethers. So, first is oxirane which is also known as ethylene oxide and has the molecular formula $ {C_2}{H_4}O $ . It is a cyclic ether and the simplest epoxide. Oxiranes 98are also known as epoxides. Which means that our option (a) is a cyclic ketone. Now if we look at our compound (b).
As the second compound is epoxy alkane this also has epoxide rings and epoxide rings are three membered oxygen rings always. So this option is also correct. Now the third compound is alkene oxide which again will have an oxygen atom that could form and hence (c) is also correct. Now we are left with only one compound which is indole-3-carbinol, in which there is no oxygen attached with two alkyl groups as shown in the structure and molecule, there is only alcohol attached.
Which means that option (D) is incorrect.

Note:
While writing the structure the molecular formula and structure of the compound should be well known. And epoxides are simplest cyclic ethers because of the good tendency for cyclization.