Mechanism :
i. Protonation of alcohol
ii. Nucleophilic attack by unprotonated alcohol molecule on protonated alcohol molecule
iii. Loss of proton to form ethoxy ethane
At high temperature (443K) alkene is formed with the same reactants. To produce a high yield of ether the alcohol is added in excess. This method is suitable for producing only symmetrical ethers. Reaction involves nucleophilic bimolecular mechanism thus it is suitable for ethers having primary alkyl groups only.
