Preparation of Phenol and Phenol Substitutes
Phenol is an aromatic alcohol compound and it can be prepared by benzene and or other compounds. Required chemicals, reagents, physical conditions need are explained in detail how to synthesis phenol in industrial scale or laboratory scale.
Preparation of phenol from Sulphonic acid group
This method is widely used in industrial scale. Alkali metal sulphonate is heated with Sodium hydroxide or Potassium hydroxide in the presence of small quantity of water to facilitate the fusion process. Mechanism of this reaction is identified as a bimolecular nucleophile addition elimination.
Preparation of phenol from benzene
We cannot synthesis directly phenol from benzene in a single step. Therefore, we have to follow several steps to prepare phenol from benzene as explained below.
Conversion of benzene to nitrobenzene
Benzene is converted into the nitrobenzene by adding concentrated sulfuric acid and Concentrated nitric acid upon heating upto 400C temperature.
Reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline
Aniline is prepared by reduction of nitrobenzene. Zinc and concentrated hydrochloric acid as added to the nitrobenzene and then add excess Sodium hydroxide to the prepare aniline salt to release aniline.
Preparing Benzene diazonium chloride
A nitrous acid solution is added to the the aniline between 0-50C. It will give benzene diazonium chloride as the product.
Finally, water is added to the benzene diazonium chloride at higher temperatures than 100C.
Preparing nitrous acid solution by aqueous sodium nitrite and dilute hydrochloric acid solution
Also we can add directly aqueous sodium nitrite and dilute hydrochloric acid solution to the aniline at room temperature conditions. This will also give phenol as the product.
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