Reaction of formaldehyde at the ortho- and para-positions of phenol: exploration of mechanisms using computational chemistry.

Abstract

Computational chemistry methods can be used to explore the theoretical chemistry behind reactive systems, to compare the relative chemical reactivity of different systems, and, by extension, to predict the reactivity of new systems. Ongoing research has focused on the reactivity of a wide variety of phenolic compounds with formaldehyde using semi-empirical and ab initio computational chemistry methods. This research has been expanded to study theoretical transition states formed on reacting phenol with formaldehyde. According to transition state theory, the energy of a transition state is related to the reaction rate. Transition states for reaction of formaldehyde at the ortho- and para-positions of phenol were determined by computational means. These theoretical calculations predict that formaldehyde reacts faster at the para-position of phenol than at the ortho-position, in agreement with experimental data.

Citation

Conner, Anthony H.; Reeves, Melissa S. 2001. Reaction of formaldehyde at the ortho- and para-positions of phenol: exploration of mechanisms using computational chemistry. Wood Adhesives 2000. Madison, WI : Forest Products Society, c2001. Pages 483-487.