Question

How will you convert propan-1-ol to propan-2-ol ?

Hint:

Conversion of $1^\circ$ alcohol to $2^\circ$ alcohol always involves an alkene intermediate. Dehydration $\to$ Alkene $\to$ Markovnikov Hydration.

Answer 1

Step 1: Dehydration: Heat Propan-1-ol with concentrated H$_2$SO$_4$ at 443 K to form Propene.
CH$_3$CH$_2$CH$_2$OH $\xrightarrow[\text{443 K}]{\text{conc. H}_2\text{SO}_4}$ CH$_3$CH=CH$_2$ + H$_2$O
Step 2: Hydration: Treat Propene with water in the presence of acid (Acid-catalyzed hydration). The addition follows Markovnikov's rule, where the OH group attaches to the more substituted carbon (the middle one).
CH$_3$CH=CH$_2$ + H$_2$O $\xrightarrow{\text{H}^+}$ CH$_3$CH(OH)CH$_3$ (Propan-2-ol)