Can phenols be utilized directly as substrates in the Williamson ether synthesis, and if so, what is — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Phenols cannot act as the substrate (alkyl halide equivalent) because the $C-O$ bond has partial double bond character. However, when treated with a base ($NaOH$), phenol forms the nucleophilic phenoxide ion, which can attack a primary alkyl halide to form an alkyl aryl ether.