Question

During dehydration of alcohols to alkenes by heating with conc. $H_{2}S{O}_4$, the initiation step is

• A. protonation of alcohol molecule
• B. formation of carbocation
• C. elimination of water
• D. formation of an Ester.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

protonation of alcohol molecule

The $-OH$ group is a poor leaving group and it becomes a good leaving group ($H_{2}O$) after protonation. As to exactly how the leaving group departs, that depends on the nature of the substrate and the ease with which a carbocation can be formed.