Phenols cannot be dehydrated like alcohols. Phenols cannot be formed by adding water to an alkene like alcohols. Phenols are weak acids, unlike alcohols which are neither acidic or basic. The hydroxyl group in phenols can hydrogen bond just like the hydroxyl group in alcohols.

Can tertiary alcohols be dehydrated?

Secondary and tertiary alcohols dehydrate through the E1 mechanism. Similarly to the reaction above, secondary and tertiary –OH protonate to form alkyloxonium ions. ... Dehydration reaction of secondary alcohol: The dehydration mechanism for a tertiary alcohol is analogous to that shown above for a secondary alcohol.

Do all alcohols undergo dehydration?

Different types of alcohols may dehydrate through a slightly different mechanism pathway. However, the general idea behind each dehydration reaction is that the –OH group in the alcohol donates two electrons to H⁺ from the acid reagent, forming an alkyloxonium ion.