Phenolic Compounds from Petroleum Sources

Interfacially active acids in a California crude oil. Isolation of carboxylic acids and phenols

“…Lower alkylated phenols have been found in various types of petroleum fractions from many different fields, but the structures of these phenols have been determined in only a few cases (2). Unfortunately, the structure determination of most of the phenols has been carried out on refinery products (2); and, in view of the known increase in phenol content that takes place during cracking processes (24), a direct correlation between phenols isolated from refinery caustic washes and those in virgin crude is not possible.…”

One-Step, Catalyst-Free Formation of Phenol from Benzoic Acid Using Water Microdroplets

“…Historically, phenol was extracted from coal tar, but at the present time most phenol is derived from petroleum. 16,17 Substituted phenols can be prepared using a variety of multistep transformations, such as diazotization of aniline to the diazonium salt followed by hydrolysis. Several other methods can be used to prepare phenols, but existing protocols require expensive starting materials, harsh reaction conditions, or naturally derived inputs.…”

“…Owing to their numerous applications, there is high commercial demand for phenol derivatives. Historically, phenol was extracted from coal tar, but at the present time most phenol is derived from petroleum. , Substituted phenols can be prepared using a variety of multistep transformations, such as diazotization of aniline to the diazonium salt followed by hydrolysis. Several other methods can be used to prepare phenols, but existing protocols require expensive starting materials, harsh reaction conditions, or naturally derived inputs. − In this study, we describe the one-step decarboxylative hydroxylation of benzoic acid to obtain phenol, which is achieved without the addition of catalysts or other reagents.…”

Cresylic Acids in Petroleum Naphthas. Assay Recovery and Characterization.

“…In 1940, Field, Dempster, and Tilson (4) published the results of a detailed study and characterization of petroleum phenols derived presumably from thermally cracked naphthas. By chemical methods the presence of phenol, 0-, m-, and p-cresols, and several higher phenols was established.…”