sceptic
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Phenol from styrene?
Just as a disclaimer, I don't know very much about organic chemistry. I'm interested in making vitreous carbon, for which I would need a
phenol-formaldehyde resin. I don't have any phenol, and I don't think I can buy it here. I could make phenol from aspirin, but I'd rather try to use
the materials I have before I buy any chemicals.
The simplest chemical I have that contains a benzene ring is polystyrene, which I could convert to styrene. Is there any way to (relatively easily)
convert styrene to phenol, or should I just go the aspirin route?
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paulll
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Mood: It's fine. Really.
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I doubt there's a route from styrene to phenol that doesn't involve a longer and more elusive shopping list than,"acetone, HCl, aspirin."
Just go the aspirin route.
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j_sum1
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Mood: Most of the ducks are in a row
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Pyrolysis of polystyrene gives styrene.
Oxidation then gives benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde then benzoic acid.
You need to knock off that extra carbon to get phenol. I doubt this is your simplest route.
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sceptic
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Posts: 49
Registered: 7-6-2022
Location: Southern Africa
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Okay, it looks like I'll have to use the aspirin route, thanks!
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