Rate constants for acid-catalyzed dehydration of cis-2-substituted 1, 2-dihydro-naphthols are well correlated by the Taft relationship log k=− 0.49–8.8 σI, with minor negative deviations for OH and OMe. By contrast the trans substituents show a poor correlation with σI and in most cases react more slowly than their cis isomers. The behavior is consistent with rate- determining formation of a 2-substituted carbocation (naphthalenium ion) intermediate ...