Question

Which of the following is not favourable for the proper dehydration of alcohol to form ether?

(a) Good temperature control during reaction

(b) Excess of alcohol

(c) Presence of protic acids

(d) Presence of bulky alkyl groups in the alcohol

This question was addressed to me in a job interview.

This interesting question is from Ethers topic in portion Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers of Chemistry – Class 12

Answer 1

Right option is (d) Presence of bulky alkyl groups in the alcohol

The best explanation: Secondary and tertiary alcohols give alkenes as major products during dehydration, because elimination competes over substitution. Hence, this method is mainly used for primary alcohols.