In the asymmetrical reaction the hydroxyl-methyl bond is cleaved and rearranged on the ethyl moiety of the methoxyethane.

Unlike the isomers of propanol, methoxyethane has an oxygen connected to two carbons rather than to one carbon and one hydrogen.

There is, however, another isomer of CHO that has significantly different properties: methoxyethane (methyl-ethyl-ether; III).

Thus, CHOCH is methoxymethane, and CHOCHCH is methoxyethane (not ethoxymethane).

In the IUPAC nomenclature system, ethers are named using the general formula "alkoxyalkane", for example CH-CH-O-CH is methoxyethane.

Methoxyethane, also known as ethyl methyl ether, is an ethyl group with a bonded methoxy.

For example, ethyl methyl ether (CHOCH), diphenylether (CHOCH).