The following flow chart connects three of the reactions we have discussed
that involve carbocation intermediates. Each arrow may represent more than one
elementary step in a mechanism.
Arrows 1 and 2 summarize the conversion of alcohols to alkyl halides, 3 and 4
the dehydrohalogenation of an alkyl halide to an alkene by the \(\mathrm{E} 1\)
mechanism, and 1 and 4 the formation of an alkene by dehydration of an
alcohol.
The reaction indicated by arrow 5 constitutes a major focus of the next
chapter. There we will explore reactions that give overall addition to the
double bond by way of carbocation intermediates. One such process converts
alkenes to alkyl halides \((5+2)\), another converts alkenes to alcohols (5 \(+6\)
).
Based on the E1 mechanism for the conversion of a tertiary alkyl chloride to
an alkene as summarized in arrows 3 and 4 , which arrow(s) represent(s) more
than one elementary step?
A. Arrow 3
B. Arrow 4
C. Both 3 and 4
D. Neither 3 nor 4