diethyl Chem.
(daɪˈɛθɪl)
[f. di-2 + ethyl.]
1. as n. A name for the group C4H10 (butyl hydride or butane), considered as a double molecule of the radical ethyl.
| 1877 Watts Fownes' Chem. (ed. 12) II. 47 Normal Butane, Diethyl, or Methyl-propyl, occurs in natural petroleum, and in the distillation-products of Cannel and Boghead coal. |
2. in Comb. Denoting two equivalents of the monad radical ethyl (C2H5), replacing two atoms of hydrogen in a compound, as diˈethylaˌmine NH(C2H5)2, diethyl carbinol COH·H·(C2H5)2, diethylstilbœstrol (or -bestrol), C18H20O2, a synthetic compound having œstrogenic properties; = stilbœstrol.
| 1850 Daubeny Atom. Th. viii. (ed. 2) 241 Diethylamine, in which 2 atoms of hydrogen are replaced by 2 of ethyle. 1869 Roscoe Elem. Chem. (1874) 330 A hydrocarbon called diethyl or butyl hydride. Ibid. 350 Acetal is isomeric with diethyl glycol. 1877 Watts Fownes' Chem. (ed. 12) II. 218 Diethylamine behaves with cyanic acid like ammonia and ethylamine, giving rise to diethyl-urea, CH2(C2H5)2N2O. 1880 Boston Jrnl. Chem. Dec. 137/2 The monethyl and diethyl phosphines have been prepared. 1938 E. C. Dodds et al. in Nature 5 Feb. 248/2 In this way 4:4{p}-dihydroxy-αβ-diethylstilbene (diethylstilbœstrol) was obtained. 1943 Thorpe's Dict. Appl. Chem. (ed. 4) VI. 272/2 Diethylstilbœstrol..confers the mating instinct on ovariectomised animals. 1944 Ann. Reg. 1943 359 Carcinoma of the prostate was successfully treated by oral administration of the synthetic œstrogen diethylstilbœstrol. 1969 Daily Tel. 18 Dec. 15/8 Heavy doses of the synthetic oestrogen diethylstilbestrol are being given to prevent pregnancy in rape victims. |