Question

What happens when Phenol is treated with Chloroform ?

Answer 1

1. Chloroform (${\mathrm{CHCl}}_3$) in $\mathrm{KOH}\mathrm{or}\mathrm{NaOH}$gives aldehyde group as the product.
2. It is an electrophilic substitution reaction.
3. The $\mathrm{OH}$ group activates the ring at ortho and para positions due to the resonance effect.
4. It is ortho substituted reaction and gives the product known as salicylaldehyde.
5. The reaction is known as Reimer-Tiemann reaction.
6. The substituted benzal chloride(intermediate) is hydrolysed in the presence of alkali to produce salicylaldehyde.
7.