Phenol forms 2,4,6-tribromophenol as a white precipitate when treated with bromine water. This occurs under typical conditions, such as room temperature, favoring the formation of the tribromophenol product.
When phenol reacts with bromine water, what is the main product formed, and what experimental conditions favor the formation of 2,4,6-tribromophenol?
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When phenol reacts with bromine water, the main product formed is 2,4,6-tribromophenol. This is due to the electrophilic aromatic substitution of bromine on the phenolic ring. The experimental conditions favoring the formation of 2,4,6-tribromophenol involve using excess bromine and maintaining slightly acidic conditions. The excess bromine ensures multiple brominations on the aromatic ring, and the slightly acidic environment helps to protonate the phenoxide ion, making it more reactive towards electrophilic attack by bromine. These conditions promote the substitution of all available hydrogen atoms on the phenolic ring, resulting in the formation of 2,4,6-tribromophenol.