The oxidation of phenol and chlorophenols by alkaline permanganate

Abstract

A kinetic study has been made of the oxidation of phenol and seven chlorophenols by alkaline permanganate. The initial reaction, which results in the formation of manganate(VI) ion, is first order with respect to permanganate ion, independent of the concentration of hydroxide ion, and of variable order with respect to phenol. At low phenol concentrations the order is unity, but at high concentrations it becomes zero. These observations can be accounted for quantitatively by the following mechanism:[Formula: see text]