Two Students Working in a Laboratory Are Tasked to Synthesize

Essay

Two students working in a laboratory are tasked to synthesize compound B from compound A. The first student thinks that a dehydration reaction, treating A with strong acid and heat, will do the trick. The second student disagrees and says the reaction will not work as intended.
a. Explain why the second student is right and predict the more likely product (C) of the reaction.
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b. If you could start with cyclohexanone, how would you prepare B? You may use any other reagents you want. Show all steps and intermediates, but reaction mechanisms are not necessary.