Abstract
Methods for quantification of the products formed in the hydroxyl addition of phenol by reverse phase chromatography are described. The sample was detected by electrochemical detector connected in tandem with UV detector. HPLC analysis indicated that the probabilities (p) for attachment of OH to the para, ortho and meta positions are 11: 8: 1. The hydroxyl radical is seen to exhibit a strong preference for addition at the positions activated by the OH group. This preference results from the electrophilic character of hydroxyl radical.