Question

How do you prepare alkoxide?

Answer 1

Treat the parent alcohol with an alkali metal; alternatively, treat it with a lithium reagent.

Explanation:

`ROH(l) + Na(s) rarr RO^(-)Na^(+) + 1/2H_2(g) uarr`

This will work for methanol and ethanol.

Alternatively,

`ROH + Bu^(-)Li^+ rarr RO^(-)Li^+ + BuH(g) uarr`

These alkali metal alkoxides usually have to be sublimed (twice!) to give the advertized reagent as pure materials.