The Oxygen Exchange Reaction of Phenol in Acidic Media

Abstract
The acid-catalyzed oxygen exchange reaction to a number of phenolic compounds that is, phenol, o- m- and p-hydroxy phenols, α- and β-naphthols, o- m- and p-nitrophenols, o- m- and p-aminophenols, o- and p-bromophenols, 2, 4, 6-tribromophenol, o- m- and p-cresols and 2, 4, 6-trimethylphenol, plus quinone for comparison with 18O-enriched water was carried out under various conditions. A plot of the logkx⁄kh line against Hammett σ-constants in the substituted phenols gave a fairly good correlation line (ρ=0.47) except in the cases of p-bromophenol and p-aminophenol. The mechanism of these reactions has been discussed.