Question

What type of mechanism is followed by dehydration of alcohol to form ether?

• A. Nucleophilic substitution unimolecular reaction
• B. Nucleophilic substitution bimolecular reaction
• C. Electrophilic substitution reaction
• D. Electrophilic addition reaction

Hint:

Dehydration of primary alcohols to ethers goes by SN2: one alcohol attacks a protonated alcohol.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Identify the nucleophile and substrate:
The nucleophile is the second alcohol molecule, the substrate is the protonated alcohol with $\text{H}_2\text{O}$ as the leaving group.

Step 2: Apply the definition:
A one-step reaction whose rate depends on both species is bimolecular nucleophilic substitution.

Step 3: Pick:
Option B.

Final Answer:
A second alcohol attacks the protonated alcohol, which is an SN2 step. \[ \boxed{\text{(B) }\text{Nucleophilic substitution bimolecular reaction}} \]