Which among the following alcohols will undergo acid-catalyzed dehydration most rapidly?

Step-by-step solution

The rate of acid-catalyzed dehydration of an alcohol depends on the stability of the carbocation intermediate formed during the rate-determining step. Let us analyze the carbocations formed from each given alcohol after the protonation and loss of a water molecule: (A) 1-phenylpropan-1-ol forms a secondary benzylic carbocation: Ph - CH ⁺- CH ₂ CH ₃ . (B) 2-phenylpropan-2-ol forms a tertiary benzylic carbocation: Ph - C ⁺( CH ₃)₂ . (C) 1-phenylpropan-2-ol forms a secondary carbocation: Ph - CH ₂- CH ⁺- CH ₃ . (D) 3-