Question: What is the mechanism of preparation of phenol from cumene or isopropylbenzene?

Quote from: apurva on September 14, 2022, 10:01:24 AM
Question: What is the mechanism of preparation of phenol from cumene or isopropylbenzene?

Step -1 - Free radical oxidative cleavage of benzylic H and transfer to molecular oxygen to give Hydroperoxide cumene.
Step 2-Protonation of peroxide oxygen .
Step 3- Elimination of water and other oxygen will become an electrophile.
Step -4 Electrophilic reaction with the pi bonds of aromatic ring .
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Step 5- Resonance stabilization of carbocation.
Step -6 -Transfer of proton on the oxygen bonded to aromatic ring.
Step -7-Formation of phenol and release of protonated acetone. 
Step 8- Deprotonation of acetone to acetone.