Copper-catalysed para-carboxylation of phenol by carbon tetrachloride in the presence of concentrated sodium hydroxide

Abstract

The orientation of attack of trichloromethyl cation (generated by copper catalyst from carbon tetrachloride) on phenolate was found to be strongly dependent on the concentration of the aqueous sodium hydroxide used, and practically selective para-carboxylation was observed under very mild conditions and with high isolated yield; addition of polyethylene glycol to the system also had a significant effect on the selectivity.