MCAT Question A Day - 4/10/13 - Answer!
In both dehydration and substitution reactions of alcohols,
A. heating is required.
B. only tertiary alcohols react.
C. —OH is the leaving group.
D. protonation usually occurs first because —OH is a poor leaving group.
The correct answer is (D). —OH is a poor leaving group. Protonation allows H2O to leave so that dehydration and substitution can occur.
