According to Wikipedia, it's done catalytically--they make methanol from natural gas, then turn the methanol into dimethyl ether. Now I need to know: what are you going to use this for? Apparently it's being considered as a substitute for diesel, but we already have biodiesel and the only "moderate modifications" you need to make to the engine for that are to replace your fuel hoses with ones biodiesel won't eat.
Dimethyl ether is CH3-O-CH3
dimethyl ether
The oxygen in the dimethyl ether gives it more polarity than pentane; thus making it soluble in water
ethanol
London, Dipole-Dipole
methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether (DME). it is simple
Dimethyl ether is polar. It is more polar than an equivalent alkene but not nearly as polar as an ester or an amide.
Dimethyl ether is CH3-O-CH3
dimethyl ether
The oxygen in the dimethyl ether gives it more polarity than pentane; thus making it soluble in water
m 'k
ethanol
S(CH3)2 is the formula for Dimethyl Sulfide analogous to Dimethyl ether
Dimethyl ether (DME) is the organic compound with the formula CH3OCH3. The simplest ether, it is a colourless gas that is a useful precursor to other organic compounds and an aerosol propellant. Dimethyl ether is also promising as a clean-burning hydrocarbon fuel.
One molecule of dimethyl ether will yield five molecules of product when burned, two carbon dioxide and three water.
London, Dipole-Dipole
The OH group in ethanol is highly hydrogen bonded which requires much more heat energy to break before boiling can occur. Dimethyl ether, which has the same molecular formula and molecular weight does not have this due to the ether linkage.