Bromination of Phenol
Reactions of the aromatic ring in phenols
- Phenols react more readily with electrophiles compared to benzene
- This is because one of the lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom in -OH overlaps with the π bonding system
- This increases the electron density of the benzene ring making it more susceptible to electrophilic attack
- The -OH group in phenols is activating and directs incoming electrophiles to the 2, 4, and 6 positions
Bromination
- Phenols also undergo electrophilic substitution reactions when reacted with bromine water at room temperature
- Phenol decolourises the orange bromine solution to form a white precipitate of 2,4,6-tribromophenol
- This is also known as the bromination of phenol
Phenols undergo bromination when reacted with bromine water at room temperature
