Question

Which one of the following will most readily be dehydrated in acidic condition ?

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Compounds in options (a) and (c) undergo dehydration easily as the product obtained are conjugated and thus more stable. Comparing options (a) and (c), the carbocation formed in (a) is more stable because it is $2^{\circ }$ but it is $1^{\circ }$ in (c). The alkene formed in (a) is also more substituted and hence more stable than alkene formed in (c).
Hence, (a) is the correct option.