The mechanism of the reaction between phenol and formaldehyde in the medium basic aqueous is
the following :
the molecule obtained can react on itself (by attack of phenolate or alcoholate primary) or with a
new phenol molecule :
here is the list of all protonated dimers that can form
, Phenol and the formaldehyde react according to an aromatic electrophilic substitution reaction in
ortho or para. The resulting product is highly unstable in the environment and forms a primary
carbocation stabilized by conjugation. This carbocation can then be attacked by another phenol
molecule according to a aromatic electrophilic substitution reaction in ortho or para also. The
polymerization then continues on the different sites of the aromatic nucleus.
The structure of the formed tetramer :
the following :
the molecule obtained can react on itself (by attack of phenolate or alcoholate primary) or with a
new phenol molecule :
here is the list of all protonated dimers that can form
, Phenol and the formaldehyde react according to an aromatic electrophilic substitution reaction in
ortho or para. The resulting product is highly unstable in the environment and forms a primary
carbocation stabilized by conjugation. This carbocation can then be attacked by another phenol
molecule according to a aromatic electrophilic substitution reaction in ortho or para also. The
polymerization then continues on the different sites of the aromatic nucleus.
The structure of the formed tetramer :
