The rates of dehydration of 4-(+ methoxyphenyl)-4-hydroxy-2-butanone (I), 4-pheiiyl-4- hydroxy-2-butanone (11) and 4-(@-nitrophenyl)-4-hydroxy-2-butanone (111) have been studied in aqueous acid. The rates of dehydration of I, 11 and I11 are all comparable in 1 molar sulfuric acid; I1 and I11 show non-linear dependence upon Ho, while I shows a linear correlation with NO. It is concluded that I1 and 111 undergo dehydration by rate- ...
