Halogenated ether

Halogenated ethers are a subcategory of ethers—organic chemicals that contain an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl groups or similar structures.

[5] James Young Simpson, an obstetrics surgeon, used ethers to help women relieve their labor pains but ultimately deemed them unsuitable due to their drawbacks.

Due to its ease of use and improved safety profile with respect to organ toxicity, halothane quickly replaced chloroform and trichloroethylene.

Although newer intravenous anesthetics (such as propofol) have increased the options of anesthesiologists, halogenated ethers remain a mainstay of general anesthesia.

[10][11] Halogenated ethers play a significant role in enhancing the thermal stability and fire resistance of polymers.

Both types of halogens contribute to the flame-retardant properties, but brominated ethers are often favoured for their higher efficiency and lower required concentrations compared to their chlorinated counterparts.

It was widely used in polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), flexible polyurethane foam, textile coatings, wire/cable insulation, electrical connectors, and other interior parts.

Decabromodiphenyl ether is one of many halogenated flame retardants that are now are heavily regulated or banned in many regions because of bioaccumulation and potential toxicity hazards.

[13] Halogenated ethers can cause respiratory depression by reducing the body's response to carbon dioxide and hypoxia, which affects breathing rates and depth.

Compounds like desflurane and isoflurane have high global warming potentials (GWP), which measure their heat-trapping abilities relative to carbon dioxide (CO₂).

These compounds do not readily degrade and thus remain in circulation long after their release, adding to the atmospheric burden of greenhouse gases.

They are generally not bioaccumulative due to its high volatility and low tendency to dissolve in water or adhere to biological tissues, but the persistent nature of these compounds raises concerns for long-term environmental effects.