Question

Phenol reacts with sodium hydroxide to give sodium phenoxide. Phenoxide ion undergoes electrophilic substitution with carbon dioxide ( a weak electrophile) because phenoxide ion is more reactive than phenol. Salicylic acid is formed as a major product. At lower temperature ortho isomer predominant, whereas para isomer is obtained at a higher temperature. Give the reason behind it.

Answer 1

Kolfe reaction in a reversible reaction at low temperature it form ortho isomer became ortho gram intra molecular hydrogen bond So at high temperature ortho can earily reverse reaction So ortho forms at low temperature

At high temperature para isomer form inter molecular hydrogen bond and hence cannot reverse.