| Abstract: | The alkali-catalyzed reaction of m-cresol with formaldehyde carried out at 65°, 70°, 75° and 80°C and at pH 7, 8, 9, 9.4, and 10 follows second-order kinetics. The rate is found to increase with increase of pH. The overall rate constant (k) has been resolved into stepwise rate constants (k1, k2, and k3) for the formation of monomethylol, dimethylol, and trimethylol cresol, respectively. For this purpose, the rate equations for the various possible steps have been given and the concentrations of the various methylol cresols formed determined. The experimental and calculated values of k at pH 10 and temperatures of 65°, 70°, and 80°C have been found to agree well within the experimental errors. Entropy of activation and the Arrhenius parameters for the overall reaction have also been calculated. |
