A kinetic study of reaction of 2-secbutylphenol with formaldehyde using different alkali catalysts

Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi-110 007, India

Manuscript received 16 May 2000, revised 19 September 2000, accepted 16 October 2000

The rates of reactions of 2-secbutylphenol-formaldehyde using NaOH and LiOH as catalysts at different concentrations and at different temperatures (65-80°) have been studied. The reaction obeys second order rate law. The relative efficiency of LiOH is greater than NaOH. The experimental and calculated values of k agree well within the experimental error. The energies of activation and the entropies of activation have been determined. A mechanism consistent with the kinetic data has been suggested.