Question
Write the mechanism of the reaction of HI with methoxymethane.
Solution
Mechanism: The cleavage of ethers by halogen acids occur by the following mechanism.
Step 1. Ethers being Lewis basis, undergo protonation to form oxonium salts:
Step 2. The protonated ether thus formed undergoes nucleophilic attack by the halide ion to form a molecule of an alkyl halide and a molecule of an alcohol.