The deli>-dration of several aliphatic alcohols over weakly acidic alumina catalysts were studied. It was found that the dehydration of neopentyl-type alcohols is usually accompanied by rearrangement and that during rearrangement the double bond is formed in preference between the 2-and% carbon atonis with respect to the original position of the hydroxyl group. The direction of elimination shifted from Saytzeff to Hofmann as the alcohol ...
