Phenols

In organic chemistry, phenols, sometimes called phenolics, are a class of chemical compounds consisting of a hydroxyl group (—OH) bonded directly to an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The simplest of the class is phenol also called as carbolic acid.

Although similar to alcohols, phenols have unique properties and are not classified as alcohols (since the hydroxyl group is not bonded to a saturated carbon atom). They have higher acidities due to the aromatic ring's tight coupling with the oxygen and a relatively loose bond between the oxygen and hydrogen. The acidity of the hydroxyl group in phenols is commonly intermediate between that of aliphatic alcohols and carboxylic acids (their pKa is usually between 10 and 12).

Loss of a positive hydrogen ion (H+) from the hydroxyl group of a phenol forms a corresponding negative phenolate ion or phenoxide ion, and the corresponding salts are called phenolates or phenoxides, although the term aryloxides is preferred according to the IUPAC Gold Book.

Phenols can have two or more hydroxy groups bonded to the aromatic ring(s) in the same molecule. The simplest examples are the three benzenediols, each having two hydroxy groups on a benzene ring.

Some phenols are germicidal and are used in formulating disinfectants. Others possess estrogenic or endocrine disrupting activity.

Synthesis of phenols
Several laboratory methods for the synthesis of phenols:
 * by an ester rearrangement in the Fries rearrangement
 * by a rearrangement of N-phenylhydroxylamines in the Bamberger rearrangement
 * by hydrolysis of phenolic esters or ethers
 * by reduction of quinones
 * by replacement of an aromatic amine by an hydroxyl group with water and sodium bisulfide in the Bucherer reaction
 * by hydrolysis of diazonium salts
 * by oligomerisation with formaldehyde + base catalysed reaction with epichlorohydrin to epoxi resin components
 * by reaction with acetone/ketones to e.g. Bisphenol A, an important monomer for resins, e.g. polycarbonate (PC), epoxi resins
 * by a rearrangement reaction of dienones in the dienone phenol rearrangement :
 * [[Image:DienonePhenolRearrangement.png|400px|The dienone phenol rearrangement]]


 * by the oxidation of aryl silanes—an aromatic variation of the Fleming-Tamao oxidation
 * by the addition of benzene and propene in to form cumene then  is added with  to form phenol (Hock Process)

Reactions of phenols
Phenols react in a wide variety of ways.
 * Esterfication reactions and ether formation
 * Electrophilic aromatic substitutions as the hydroxyl group is activating, for example synthesis of calixarenes
 * Reaction of naphtols and hydrazines and sodium bisulfite in the Bucherer carbazole synthesis
 * Oxidative cleavage, for instance cleavage of 1,2-dihydroxybenzene to the monomethylester of 2,4 hexadienedioic acid with oxygen, copper chloride in pyridine
 * Oxidative de-aromatization to quinones also known as the Teuber reaction. Oxidizing reagents are Fremy's salt and oxone. In reaction depicted below 3,4,5-trimethylphenol reacts with singlet oxygen generated from oxone/sodium carbonate in an acetonitrile/water mixture to a para-peroxyquinole. This hydroperoxide is reduced to the quinole with sodium thiosulfate.
 * [[Image:OxonePhenolDearomatization.png|600px|Oxone Phenol Dearomatization]]


 * Phenols are oxidized to phediols in the Elbs persulfate oxidation
 * Phenolate anions (deriving from phenols by the loss of H+) can act as ligands towards metal cations

Phenolic compounds

 * For a full list, see Category:Phenols

Adverse health effects of some phenols
Some of the above substances are related to endocrine-disruptive chemicals. GreenPeace report on Hazardous Chemicals in Consumer Products

Natural occurrence
Phenols are found in the natural world, especially in the plant kingdom. In some cases of natural phenols, they are present in vegetative foliage to discourage herbivory, such as in the case of Western poison oak.

Industrial processing
The class of phenols (or phenoles) is an important raw material and an additive for industrial purposes in:
 * laboratory processes
 * chemical industry
 * chemical engineering processes
 * wood processing
 * plastics processing