Chapter 10, Problem 10.5P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The curved-arrow mechanism for acid-catalyzed dehydration reaction of $\text{3-}$ methyl $\text{-3-}$ heptanol is to be stated. The identification of all the Bronsted acids and bases, electrophiles and nucleophiles, and all leaving groups present in each step of the mechanism is to be stated.

Concept introduction:

The dehydration of an alcohol leads to the formation of alkene. This dehydration can be done acid-catalysed mechanism. In this mechanism, first step is the abstraction of proton by the hydroxide group. Second step is the removal of water to give an intermediate “carbocation”. Third step is the generation of alkene by the removal of $\beta \text{-}$ hydrogen from the intermediate.