A general method for coulometric titration of alkylphenols with bromine

A general method for coulometric titration of alkylphenols with anodically generated bromine is described. The reaction is carried out in a water-acetic acid medium and the reactivity is governed by varying the water content and the concentration of bromide ion and by the addition of pyridine. In that way all types of alkylphenols can be titrated quantitatively. For phenols containing more than one free ortho and para position, the titration can also be carried out either to the monobromination stage or to the full bromination stage. The mean relative error is ± 1·2% for monobromination and ±1·5% for full bromination. A method for rapid determination of the number of free ortho and para positions in alkylphenols by using two coulometric titrations is also described.