(a) Name the starting material used in the industrial preparation of phenol.
(b) Write complete reaction for the bromination of phenol in aqueous and non-aqueous medium.
(c) Explain why Lewis acid is not required in bromination of phenol ?

Explanation

(a) Starting materal for the manufacture of phenol in both cumene and Rasching's processes in benzene, which is one of the products of coal tar distillation. Cholorbenzene is uded in Dow's process. For details, consult section. 13
(b) For answer, consult section 16
(c) In phenol as well as phenate ion, the ring is highly activate and it is in a position to bring about the polarisation of Br-Br atom . The electrophile `Br^(+)` ion can be readily made available. Therefore, no Lewis acid is requred in this case. For more details, consult section 16