Alcohols and Phenols Flashcards
Describe phenols acidity
More acidic than aliphatic alcohols, less than benzoic acid. The O electrons dissociate to the ring, meaning the O-H bond is weakened and the H can more easily dissociate.
Will phenol react with sodium carbonate
It isn’t strong enough to react with carbonates, but will react with sodium metal
How do you esterify phenol
Add an acyl chloride, forms an ester and HCl
How do you reduce phenol
Using zinc
Can you oxidise a phenol
No, the phenol reacts much like a tertiary alcohol
Can you substitute the phenol group
The C-O bond is very strong and so cannot be substituted, however it can be esterified
Uses of phenol
Disinfectant
Paint
Analgesics
How can alcohols be produced
Nucleophilic substitution of a haloalkane
Hydration of alkenes
Fermentation
Reduction of carbonyls
How do you reduce a carboxylic acid to an alcohol
Use lithium tetrahydroaluminate in ether
How do you reduce a aldehyde/ketone to an alcohol
Use sodium tetrahydroborate in water
How do you halogenate an alcohol with chlorine
Use HCl with a ZnCl2 and heat
Use PCl5
Use SOCl2
How do you halogenate an alcohol with bromine
Use HBr. This can be obtained using KBr and H2SO4
How do you halogenate an alcohol with iodine
Use PI3
What is the test for phenol
Add FeCl3. Turns purple with phenol
