Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of -OH Substituted Phenols Based on Formation of Complex with Cu(II)

Abstract

A method has been developed to assay substituted phenols. It considers that when hydroxyl group is present on an arene ring, it dissociates so as to give negative charge in presence of alkali. In this study different isomers of hydroxyphenols are used. We propose that the addition of divalent metal ion Cu(II) result in the formation
of an intermediate metal-arene complex as a precipitate in the assay.
The complex formed may have different configuration with respect
to the position of hydroxyl group on the phenolic ring. The acid
soluble complex imparts colours to the reactions based on their
absorption maxima. The spectrophotometric assays have shown the
distinct spectra based on the substitution on the phenol ring.