When 1-(1-phenylcyclobutyl)ethan-1-ol is heated with concentrated H ₂ SO ₄ , the major organic product formed is:

Step-by-step solution

Step 1: Protonation of the hydroxyl group of 1-(1-phenylcyclobutyl)ethan-1-ol followed by the loss of a water molecule generates a secondary carbocation at the side chain. Step 2: The highly strained four-membered cyclobutane ring undergoes expansion to relieve ring strain. A C-C bond migrates to the secondary carbocation, expanding the ring to a five-membered cyclopentane ring. This shifts the positive charge to the carbon bearing the phenyl group, forming a highly stable tertiary benzylic carbocation (1-phenyl-2-