Write the structure of the three alkenes that are obtained in the acid-catalyzed dehydration of 2-pentanol.
SOLUTION:
[1] Alcohol protonation.
[2] Loss of water, with formation of secondary carbocation.
[3] Elimination promoted by the bases of the environment.
The internal alkene is obtained as a Z/E mixture, with the E isomer being the majority. The unimolecular elimination mainly produces the most stable (thermodynamic) alkene, following Saytzev's rule.
