Edexcel IAL Chemistry A2 18.6 phenol bromination and ring activation
Edexcel IAL Chemistry A2 18.6 phenol bromination and ring activation
Use the oxygen lone pair: it overlaps with the ring π system, raises electron density and allows phenol to react with bromine water under milder conditions.
How this is tested
- Write the bromine water equation forming 2,4,6-tribromophenol and HBr.
- Explain phenol activation by oxygen lone-pair delocalisation into the ring.
- Compare phenol and benzene bromination conditions, products and reactivity.