Alcohol Dehydrations generally take the following form:
General Mechanism: First step involves the protonation of the alcohol by an acid, followed by loss of water to give a carbocation. Elimination occurs when the acid conjugate base plucks off a hydrogen. Alcohol dehydrations always go by E2 mechanism.
Points to
Watch:
Because the intermediate involves carbocation, rearangements can occur
Example of Alcohol Dehydrations:
