back to directory
NEET CHEMISTRYAlcohols, Phenols and EthersMedium

Question

Which of the following is not the product of dehydration of the given alcohol?

A

Option 1

B

Option 2

C

Option 3

D

Option 4

Step-by-Step Solution

Dehydration of alcohols to alkenes is catalysed by concentrated sulphuric acid (H2SO4H_2SO_4) or phosphoric acid (H3PO4H_3PO_4). The reaction typically proceeds via an E1 mechanism involving the formation of a carbocation intermediate.

  1. Protonation: The alcohol accepts a proton to form a protonated alcohol.
  2. Carbocation Formation: Water leaves, generating a carbocation. This is the slow, rate-determining step.
  3. Rearrangement: If the carbocation is secondary (22^\circ) or primary (11^\circ) and can rearrange to a more stable tertiary (33^\circ) carbocation via a 1,2-hydride or 1,2-methyl shift, this rearrangement will occur.
  4. Elimination: A proton is removed from a β\beta-carbon to form a double bond. According to Saytzeff's (Zaitsev's) rule, the major product is the most highly substituted alkene (the one with the greater number of alkyl groups attached to the double bond carbon atoms).

Any alkene that cannot be formed via the initial carbocation or its rearranged forms (following the Saytzeff or Hofmann elimination pathways) would be the correct answer for 'not a product'.

Exam Context & Concepts Covered

This question aligns with the NEET CHEMISTRY syllabus, specifically targeting concepts from Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers. Mastering this topic is crucial for scoring well in the upcoming medical entrance examinations. Solving conceptually related problems will help you understand the nuances of these concepts and improve your problem-solving speed.

CHEMISTRYAlcohols, Phenols and Ethersfollowingproductdehydrationalcohol

More Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers Questions

View all

This neet chemistry practice question is part of the TopperSquare free question bank. TopperSquare offers 15,000+ chapter-wise NEET MCQs across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology with detailed step-by-step explanations, full mock tests, NEET PYQs (2010–2024), and an AI-powered performance analytics dashboard. browse all neet practice questions → · practice chemistry sets →