Ethers can be named using common names or IUPAC names.
Example 1: CH3OCH2CH3
Common Name: Ethyl methyl ether
IUPAC Name: 1-methoxyethane (or methoxyethane)
Longest chain: 2 carbons (ethane)
Substituent: OCH3 (methoxy)
Example 2: CH3OCH2CH2CH3
Common Name: Butyl ethyl ether
IUPAC Name: 1-ethoxybutane
Longest chain: 4 carbons (butane)
Substituent: OCH3 (ethoxy)
Example 3: CH3CH2OCH2CH3
Common Name: Diethyl ether
IUPAC Name: Ethoxyethane
Both sides have ethyl groups, so it's simply diethyl ether in common name.
Example 4: CH3CH(OCH2CH3)CH2CH3
Common Name: Ethyl isopropyl ether
IUPAC Name: 2-ethoxypropane
Longest chain: 3 carbons (propane)
Substituent: OCH2CH3 (ethoxy)
Example 5: CH3CH(OCH3)CH2CH2Br
Common Name: Not applicable
IUPAC Name: 4-bromo-3-methoxy-2-pentanol
Alcohol (OH) has higher priority than ether.
Example 6: CH3O(C5H10)
Common Name: Cyclopentyl methyl ether
IUPAC Name: Methoxycyclopentane
Longest chain: cyclopentane
Substituent: OCH3 (methoxy)
Example 7: C6H11OCH2CH3
Common Name: Cyclohexyl ethyl ether
IUPAC Name: Ethoxycyclohexane
Longest chain: cyclohexane
Example 8: C2H5O(C2H5O)
Common Name: Dimethoxyethane
IUPAC Name: 1,2-dimethoxyethane
Longest chain: 2 carbons (ethane)
Example 9: C9H19O(C2H5)
Common Name: Diethyl ether
IUPAC Name: 1,6-diethoxy-nonane
Longest chain: 9 carbons (nonane)
Substituents at carbons 1 and 6.
Summary
Ethers can be named using both common nomenclature and IUPAC nomenclature.
The common name often combines the names of the two alkyl groups, while the IUPAC name follows systematic rules prioritizing the longest carbon chain and substituents.