Formaldehyde condensations with phenol and its homologues. XVIII Chromatographic analysis

Abstract

Abstract Various chromatographic and experimental techniques are described, which have made possible the analysis of samples taken from phenol—formaldehyde reaction mixtures studied over a wide range of conditions. Many of the components have been identified by chromatography with known compounds, the R F values of the others have been recorded for information in tabular form. Some of the simpler reactions possibly involved in these condensations have been investigated, allowing a tentative hypothesis to be formed regarding the reaction mechanism involved. The investigation partially clarifies the earlier stages of the reaction although compounds are present, just prior to the resin becoming insoluble, which cannot be identified with any known intermediates.