This document discusses phenols, which are aromatic compounds containing a hydroxyl (-OH) group. Phenols differ from alcohols in that the -OH group is attached to an aromatic carbon rather than an aliphatic carbon. Phenols are more acidic than alcohols due to resonance stabilization of the phenoxide ion. Phenols undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions and reactions typical of alcohols like ester formation. Common phenols include phenol, cresols, resorcinol, and napthols, which are used to make plastics, drugs, dyes, disinfectants, and wood preservatives.

1. PHENOLS
Phenols are compounds with an –OH group
attached to an aromatic carbon. Although they
share the same functional group with alcohols,
where the –OH group is attached to an aliphatic
carbon, the chemistry of phenols is very different
from that of alcohols.

2. Nomenclature.
Phenols are usually named as substituted phenols. The
methylphenols are given the special name, cresols. Some other
phenols are named as hydroxy compounds.
OH
phenol
OH
Br
m-bromophenol
CH3
OH
o-cresol
OH
COOH
salicylic acid
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
OH
catechol resorcinol hydroquinone
COOH
OH
p-hydroxybenzoic acid

3. Physical properties
1. Phenols are polar and can hydrogen bond
2. Phenols are water insoluble
3. Phenols are stronger acids than water and
will dissolve in 5% NaOH
4. Phenols are weaker acids than carbonic acid and
do not dissolve in 5% NaHCO3

4. Intramolecular hydrogen bonding is possible in some
ortho-substituted phenols. This intramolecular hydrogen
bonding reduces water solubility and increases volatility.
Thus, o-nitrophenol is steam distillable while the
isomeric p-nitrophenol is not.
N
O
H
O
O
o-nitrophenol
bp 100oC at 100 mm
0.2 g / 100 mL water
volatile with steam
OH
NO2
p-nitrophenol
bp decomposes
1.69 g / 100 mL water
non-volatile with steam

5. Phenols, synthesis:
1. From diazonium salts
2. Alkali fusion of sulfonates
N2
H2O,H+
OH
SO3 Na NaOH,H2O
300o
ONa
H+ OH

6. Phenols, reactions:
1. as acids
2. ester formation
3. ether formation
4. EAS
a) nitration f) nitrosation
b) sulfonation g) coupling with diaz. salts
c) halogenation h) Kolbe
d) Friedel-Crafts alkylation i) Reimer-Tiemann
e) Friedel-Crafts acylation

7. as acids:
with active metals:
with bases:
CH4 < NH3 < HCCH < ROH < H2O < phenols < H2CO3 < RCOOH < HF
OH
Na
ONa
sodium phenoxide
+ H2(g)
OH
+ NaOH
ONa
+ H2O
SA SB WB WA

8. CH4 < NH3 < HCCH < ROH < H2O < phenols < H2CO3 < RCOOH < HF
OH
+ NaOH
ONa
+ H2O
SA SB WB WA
water insoluble water soluble
OH
+ NaHCO3 NR phenol < H2CO3

9. insoluble soluble insoluble
insoluble soluble soluble
water 5% NaOH 5% NaHCO3
phenols
carboxylic
acids
CH4 < NH3 < HCCH < ROH < H2O < phenols < H2CO3 < RCOOH < HF

10. We use the ionization of acids in water to measure acid
strength (Ka):
HBase + H2O H3O+ + Base-
Ka = [H3O+ ][ Base ] / [ HBase]
ROH Ka ~ 10-16 - 10-18
ArOH Ka ~ 10-10
Why are phenols more acidic than alcohols?

11. ROH + H2O H3O+ + RO-
ArOH + H2O H3O+ + ArO-
OH OH O O O O O
Resonance stabilization of the phenoxide
ion, lowers the PE of the products of the
ionization, decreases the ΔH, shifts the equil
farther to the right, makes phenol more
acidic than an alcohol

12. effect of substituent groups on acid strength?
OH
G + H2O
O
G + H3O
Electron withdrawing groups will decrease the negative
charge in the phenoxide, lowering the PE, decreasing the ΔH,
shifting the equil farther to the right, stronger acid.
Electron donating groups will increase the negative charge
in the phenoxide, increasing the PE, increasing the ΔH,
shifting the equilibrium to the left, weaker acid.

13. 2. ester formation (similar to alcohols)
OH
CH3
+ CH3CH2C
O
OH
H+
CH3CH2C
O
O
H3C
+ H2O
OH
COOH
salicyclic acid
+ (CH3CO)2O
O
COOH
C
H3C
O
aspirin

14. O
COOH
C
H3C
O
aspirin
analgesic
anti-inflamatory
antipyrretic
anticoagulant
Reye's syndrome
not to be used by children
with high fevers!
OH
NH
C
H3C
O
acetaminophen
aspirin substitute
Tylenol
Kidney damage!

15. 3. ether formation (Williamson Synthesis)
Ar-O-Na+ + R-X  Ar-O-R + NaX
note: R-X must be 1o or CH3
Because phenols are more acidic than water, it is possible
to generate the phenoxide in situ using NaOH.
OH
CH3
+ CH3CH2Br, NaOH
OCH2CH3
CH3

16. 4. Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution
The –OH group is a powerful activating group in EAS
and an ortho/para director.
a) nitration
OH OH
NO2
NO2
O2N
polynitration!
OH
dilute HNO3
OH OH
NO2
NO2
+
HNO3

17. OH
Br2 (aq.)
OH
Br
Br
Br no catalyst required
use polar solvent
polyhalogenation!
OH
Br2, CCl4
OH OH
Br
Br
+
non-polar solvent
b) halogenation

18. c) sulfonation
OH
H2SO4, 15-20oC
OH
SO3H
H2SO4, 100oC
OH
SO3H
At low temperature the reaction is non-reversible and the lower Eact ortho-
product is formed (rate control).
At high temperature the reaction is reversible and the more stable para-
product is formed (kinetic control).

19. d) Friedel-Crafts alkylation.
OH
+ H3C C CH3
CH3
Cl
AlCl3
OH
C CH3
CH3
H3C

20. e) Friedel-Crafts acylation
OH
CH3CH2CH2C
O
Cl
+
AlCl3
OH
O
Do not confuse FC acylation with esterification:
OH
CH3CH2CH2C
O
Cl
+ O
O

21. OH
O
OH
CH3CH2CH2C
O
Cl
+ O
O
AlCl3
Fries rearrangement of phenolic esters.

22. f) nitrosation
OH
HONO
OH
NO
EAS with very weak electrophile NO+
OH
CH3 NaNO2, HCl
OH
CH3
NO
p-nitrosophenol

23. g) coupling with diazonium salts
(EAS with the weak electrophile diazonium)
OH
CH3
+
N2 Cl
benzenediazonium
chloride
CH3
OH
N
N
an azo dye

24. h) Kolbe reaction (carbonation)
ONa
+ CO2
125o
C, 4-7 atm.
OH
COONa
sodium salicylate
H+
OH
COOH
salicylic acid
EAS by the weakly
electrophilic CO2
O C O


25. i) Reimer-Tiemann reaction
OH
CHCl3, aq. NaOH
70oC
H+
OH
CHO
salicylaldehyde
The salicylaldehyde can be easily oxidized to salicylic acid

26. STRUCTURES AND USES
OF PHENOLS

27. PHENOL
1. Used as a starting material to make plasrics, drugs
such as aspirin.
2. Herbicides ,gasolines additives and wood
preservatives.

28. CRESOL
Mixed cresols are used as disinfectants,
preservatives and wood preservatives.
a) O-cresol ; used as solvent, disinfectants
and chemical intermediates.
b) M-cresol ;used to produce certain
herbicides to produce antioxidants, and to
manufacture 2,4,6-nitrocresol (explosive)
c) P-cresol; largely used in formulation of
antioxidants and in fragrance and dye
industries.

29. RESOURCINOL
1. Used to treat acne, seborrheic dermatitis,eczema,
psoriasis, and other skin disorders.
2. Antidandruff agent.
3. Antiseptic and disinfectant.

30. NAPTHOL
• Alpha napthol ; used in making several dyes.
• Beta napthol ; used in making azodyes,pigments,
fluoroscents, whiteners , tanning agents, antioxidants,
antiseptics.

31. THANK YOU