Notes on Phenols
Phenols
- Aromatic alcohols, i.e. the OH is directly attached on the benzene ring as opposed to aliphatic
alcohols (Notes on Alcohol)
- The simplest is phenol
often called “carbolic acid”
Preparation of Phenols
1. Distillation of coal tar
2. Dow process – happens only at high temp and pressure
3. From the hydroperoxide of cumene
Reactions of Phenols
1. Electrophilic aromatic substitution
-OH is activating, therefore ortho-para director (REVIEW!!!)
2. Reaction with base, NaOH (because phenols are acidic)
Phenols
- Aromatic alcohols, i.e. the OH is directly attached on the benzene ring as opposed to aliphatic
alcohols (Notes on Alcohol)
- The simplest is phenol
often called “carbolic acid”
Preparation of Phenols
1. Distillation of coal tar
2. Dow process – happens only at high temp and pressure
3. From the hydroperoxide of cumene
Reactions of Phenols
1. Electrophilic aromatic substitution
-OH is activating, therefore ortho-para director (REVIEW!!!)
2. Reaction with base, NaOH (because phenols are acidic)
