Coulometric titration of deactivated phenols with bromine

A number of deactivated phenols containing fluorine, chlorine or bromine, formyi, acetyl, carboxyl or nitro groups have been titrated with anodically generated bromine. The reaction was carried out in a water-acetic acid-pyridine medium and the reactivity was controlled by varying the water and pyridine content and the concentration of bromide ion. Hydrogen in all free positions ortho and para to the phenolic hydroxyl group is generally exchanged for bromine, but in certain instances a partial bromination is possible. The method as developed is widely applicable for deactivated phenols. Only certain ortho-substituted phenols could not be quantitatively titrated. The mean relative error for the phenols titrated was ± 1·2%.