This paper describes the dehydration of an alcohol to form an alkene. What is the mechanism of alcohol dehydration with iodine? Why can only iodine of all the halogens be used?
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2$\begingroup$ Can you post an example of the kind of system you mean? In the broadest possible sense iodine can act as a Lewis acid to help the OH leave, but it would depend on the structure of the SM as to how the whole thing proceeded. $\endgroup$– NotEvans.Nov 22, 2015 at 18:11
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2$\begingroup$ My point is that asking for a mechanism without any indication of the structure is unlikely to yield a correct answer, as the mechanism for any process depends upon the steric and electronic demands of the molecule. I'd also question whether iodine is considered a 'general' method for these reactions, quoting from March's Advanced Organic Chemistry: "Many other dehydrating agents159 have been used on occasion: P2O5, I2..." .. the examples I have seen of iodine used tend to be very specific examples where other more common reagents were tried and failed $\endgroup$– NotEvans.Nov 22, 2015 at 20:54
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2$\begingroup$ Marko, if you would like to see such an example, could you re-word your question to be "What is an example of a reaction and mechanism where iodine dehydrates an alcohol?"? $\endgroup$– Curt F.Nov 23, 2015 at 5:21
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1$\begingroup$ Do you have an example of this type reaction? $\endgroup$– jerepierreNov 23, 2015 at 18:18
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1$\begingroup$ May this question be opened now or is any further correction needed? $\endgroup$– EJCNov 25, 2015 at 18:52
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