Alkoxide

Alcoxide

The alkoxides or alcoholates are those compounds of the ROM type, where R is an alkyl group, O an oxygen atom and M a metal ion or other type of cation.

The alkoxides are obtained from the respective alcohols by means of their deprotonation. Strong bases are used, for example sodium hydride, NaH, or alkali metals (usually sodium and potassium). Hydrogen is evolved in the reaction.

ROH + NaH → ROH^-Na⁺ + H₂

In inorganic chemistry, alkoxides are used as ligands.

Nomenclature

They can be named with the ending oxide or as derivatives of the alcohol they come from. For example, the KOC(CH₃)₃ can be named in the following ways:

• terc- potassiumbutoxide
• terc- potassiumbutylate