PHENOL HYDROXYLATION BY IRON(II) PHENANTHROLINE - THE REACTION-MECHANISM

Phenol hydroxylation catalyzed by iron(II)-1,10-phenanthroline is inve stigated through kinetics, ESR, W-Vis as well as cyclic voltammogram s tudies. The optimum reaction conditions are obtained for diphenols pro duction. Radical substitution mechanism is first proposed to explain t he effects of pH, reaction medium and other factors on the phenol hydr oxylation with H2O2 as oxidant, and found that the coexisting of iron( II)-1,10-phenanthroline and iron(III)-1,10-phenanthroline is the key f or phenol hydroxylation to occur with H2O2 as oxygen donor.