In the industrial preparation of phenol via the cumene process, exactly of cumene hydroperoxide unde — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question
Question
In the industrial preparation of phenol via the cumene process, exactly $1 \text{ mole}$ of cumene hydroperoxide undergoes complete acidic cleavage. How many moles of acetone ($CH_3COCH_3$) are produced as an equimolar co-product in this specific reaction step?
Answer: 1
💡 Solution & Explanation
The acidic cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide involves the protonation of the peroxide oxygen, migration of the phenyl ring to oxygen, and subsequent hydrolysis. The entire cumyl skeletal framework breaks cleanly into exactly one mole of phenol and one mole of acetone ($CH_3COCH_3$).
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