INTRODUCTION

Phenols are formed by the substitution of one H atom from aromatic hydrocarbons with a –OH group. Phenol is a derivative of benzene, whereby a –OH group is hooked up to the benzene formula. Relying upon the no. of OH hooked up to the ring, the phenols are classified as mono or dihydroxy or polyhydroxy derivatives. The name ‘phenol’ is given to the primary derivative, and also the group members are named as derivatives of phenol. For instance, o-cresol, with –CH3 group and one –OH, is termed 2-methyl phenol.

Reactions of phenol 

Phenol is very reactive to electrophilic aromatic substitution because the element atom’s pi electrons provide electron density into the ring. By this overall approach, many groups will be connected to the ring, through halogenation, sulfonation, acylation, and different strategies.

However, phenol’s ring is therefore powerfully activated—second solely to aniline-that chlorination or bromination of phenol can cause replacement on all carbon atoms para and ortho to the radical, not only on one carbon. It reacts with dilute acid at room temperature to provide a mix of 2-nitrophenol and 4-nitrophenol whereas, with targeted acid, several nitro teams get replaced on the ring to provide two, 4, 6-trinitrophenol that is also referred to as acid.

Preparation of Phenols

Preparation of phenols from diazonium salts, aromatic hydrocarbon acid, haloarenes, cumene. They’re also referred to as carbolic acids. They’re weak acids and generally form phenoxide ions by dropping one positive cation (H+) from the radical. Phenol was mainly factory-made from coal tar. Nowadays, with developments in technologies, some new strategies have shown up for the creation of phenols in laboratories. A number of the approaches to preparation of phenols are explained below:

Preparation of Phenols From Haloarenes:

Chlorobenzene is an example of haloarenes that are formed by the mono replacement of the benzene ring. once dissolver is reacted with hydrated oxide at 623K and 320 atm Na hydroxide is made. Finally, Na hydroxide on acidification makes phenols.

Preparation of Phenols from aromatic hydrocarbon Sulphonic Acid:

Benzenesulphonic acid can be obtained from benzene by reacting it with oleum. Benzenesulphonic acid, hence formed, is amalgamate(fused) with melted Na(sodium)  hydroxide at a high temperature that ends up in making Na phenoxide. Lastly, Na phenoxide on acidification gives phenols.

Preparation of Phenols From diazonium Salts:

When an aromatic primary amine is amalgamate(fused) with nitrous in the presence of HCl(NaNO2 + HCl) acid at 273 – 278 K, diazonium salts are obtained. These diazonium salts are very reactive. Phenols may also be obtained from diazonium salts by treating them with dilute acids.

Preparation of Phenols From Cumene:

Cumene is an organic compound obtained by Friedel-Crafts alkylation of benzene with propylene. On oxidation of isopropyl benzene(cumene) in the presence of air, cumene hydroperoxide is found. Upon more action of cumene hydroperoxide with dilute acid, phenols are created. Acetone is additionally created as the by-products of this reaction in huge quantities. Therefore, phenols ready by these techniques would like purifications.

Synthesis of Phenols by the transformation of the Na salt of aromatic hydrocarbon acid

You can turn out phenols in giant amounts by the pyrolysis of the Na salt of benzene sulphonic acid, by a method referred to as the Dow method, and by the air oxidation of cumene. You can also produce small amounts of phenol by the peroxide oxidation of phenylboronic acid and also by the hydrolysis of diazonium salts. In this methodology, benzene sulphonic acid is reacted with aqueous Na hydrated oxide. The ensuing salt is mixed with solid Na hydroxide and reacted at a high temperature. The product of this reaction is Na phenoxide, which is acidified with aqueous acid to form phenol.

Dow method

In this method, chlorobenzene is reacted with dilute Na hydroxide at a temperature of about 300°C and 3000 psi pressure.

Air chemical reaction of Cumene

The oxidation of cumene within the presence of air (isopropylbenzene) can cause the creation of both acetone and phenol.

Cumene Hydroperoxide Formation– The development of hydroperoxide continues by a free radical chain reaction. A radical initiator extracts a hydrogen‐free radical from the molecule, creating a tertiary free radical. The formation of the tertiary atom is the commencement of the reaction.

Cumene Hydroperoxide Degradation– 

• The degradation of the cumene hydroperoxide continues through a carbocation mechanism. Within the first step, a combination of electrons on the oxygen of the hydroperoxide’s “hydroxyl group” is attached to a proton of the H3O + molecule, creating an oxonium particle.
• Next, the oxonium ion develops stability once the ‘+ve’charged oxygen leaves in a   water molecule. This loss of a water molecule yields a brand new oxonium ion.
• A phenoxide ion move to the oxygen (which makes a tertiary carbocation) stabilizes the charged oxygen.
• The carbocation is stabilized via an acid-base reaction with a water molecule, resulting in the development of oxonium ion.
• The stability of the oxonium particle is by the loss of a proton.
• The ‘+ve’ charged ether oxygen attracts the electrons in the oxygen-carbon bond toward itself, so delocalizing the charge over each of the atoms. The fractionally ‘+ve’ charge on the carbon attracts the nonbonding electron combined from the element of the OH group, letting the electrons within the original oxy-carbon band be released back to the additional electronegative oxygen atom.
• Finally, a nucleon is lost from the protonated acetone molecule, resulting in the development of acetone.

Application of Phenol 

• Condensation of alkylphenols, phenol, or diphenols with formaldehyde can provide phenolic resins, a widely known example of that is plastic.
• Partial hydrogenation of phenol can provide cyclohexanone, a precursor to nylon. Nonionic detergents are shaped by alkylation of phenol to provide the alkylphenols, e.g., nonylphenol, that are then exposed to ethoxylation.
• Phenol is additionally a helpful precursor to an enormous assortment of medication, most notably pain pills but also many herbicides and pharmaceutical medication.
• Phenol is a component within the liquid/liquid phenol-chloroform abstraction technique utilized in biological science for the procurance of nucleic acids from tissues or cell culture samples. Depending on the pH of the answer either deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid will be well-mined.

CONCLUSION

Phenols are formed by the substitution of one H atom from an aromatic hydrocarbon with a –OH group. Phenol is a derivative of benzene, whereby a –OH group is hooked up to the benzene formula. Phenol is very reactive to electrophilic aromatic substitution because the element atom’s pi electrons provide electron density into the ring. Preparation of phenols from diazonium salts, aromatic hydrocarbon acid, haloarenes, cumene. They’re also referred to as carbolic acids. They’re weak acids and generally form phenoxide ions by dropping one positive cation (H+) from the radical. Condensation with acetone develops bisphenol-A, a key precursor to epoxide resins and polycarbonates.