The Williamson Ether Synthesis is a appropriate experiment to do during the nucleophilic substitution chapter.
It is generally a classic synthesis format.
The use of isomeric cresols give it a little investigative flavor.
2007 Student Handout: Williamson_Ether.pdf
Student_Comments_2007:_Williamson Ether Synthesis
The main drawback for this experiment is that fact that, though they are rather inexpensive, cresols are nasty reagents.
I would be interested in a comparable experiment that uses friendlier reagents.
Has anyone tried Semi-Microscale Williamson Ether Synthesis and Simultaneous Isolation of an Expectorant from Cough Tablets?

Source:"Experiments in Organic Chemistry" 3rd Edition
Richard K. Hill, emeritus University of Georgia
John Barbaro, Rocky Mountain College, formerly of University of Florida
ISBN: 0-89892-311-5
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