Question

mechanism of cumene to phenol preparation

Answer 1

Answer:

This is an old industrial process. Cumene (isopropylbenzene) is oxidized with air in the presence of a cobalt catalyst. The product is cumene hydroperoxide, which is to say PhCMe2OOH. When the hydroperoxide is heated in dilute sulfuric acid, it fragments into phenol and acetone, both of which are sold. This process has fallen out of favor compared to other manufacturing routes. The problem is that phenol and acetone are formed in a fixed ratio and the market demand for the two products does not necessarily match.