Mechanism of chlorination of cresol by chloramine-T. Mediation by dichloramine-T

Abstract

The zero-order dependence of the rate of chlorination of p-cresol by chloramine-T on the concentration of the phenol has previously been attributed to the formation of hypochlorous acid from the chloro-sulphonamide as being the rate-determining step. Evidence is presented to show that the reaction actually proceeds through dichloramine-T and that the rate of formation of this species constitutes the limiting step.