Elimination Reactions: Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols
This page focuses on the elimination reaction that converts alcohols to alkenes using an acid catalyst, specifically concentrated sulphuric acid. This reaction is known as acid-catalyzed dehydration.
The mechanism is presented step-by-step, showing how the alcohol is protonated by the acid catalyst, followed by the loss of water to form a carbocation intermediate. The final step involves the loss of a proton to form the alkene product.
Example: The dehydration of 2-propanol to form propene is illustrated, demonstrating the E1 elimination mechanism.
Vocabulary: Dehydration refers to the removal of water from a compound.
This reaction is reversible, with the reverse reaction being the hydration of alkenes to form alcohols. The acid catalyst (H₂SO₄) is regenerated at the end of the reaction.
Understanding this mechanism is essential for answering questions about alkenes A level chemistry and the interconversion of organic compounds.