Abstract The readily available 1-t-butoxyalkyl sulfones were converted by hydride reduction into alkyl t-butyl ethers. Reductive coupling with sodium metal or amalgam in an aprotic solvent led to glycol bis-1, 2-Ot-butyl ethers. Polyethers such as 18-crown-6 can be synthesized by this procedure.
![1-ethoxy-2-[2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethane Structure](https://image.chemsrc.com/caspic/268/4499-99-4.png)