Phenoxide is a chemical compound containing a phenyl group bonded to an oxygen atom with a negative charge. The spelling of the word "phenoxide" can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription /ˈfɛnəksaɪd/. The first syllable "phen" is pronounced with the "f" sound, similar to the word "phone". The second syllable "ox" is pronounced with a short "o" as in "sock" and the final syllable "ide" is pronounced with a long "i" as in "side".
Phenoxide refers to an anion that originates from the deprotonation of a phenol molecule. It is formed when a hydrogen atom is removed from the hydroxyl group (-OH) of a phenol compound, resulting in the generation of a negatively charged ion. The phenoxide ion carries a one-unit negative charge (O-) due to the transfer of the proton. This deprotonation process occurs by the action of a base, such as an alkali metal hydroxide or an alkoxide.
Phenoxide ions are highly reactive and are commonly involved in a variety of chemical reactions. They readily participate in nucleophilic substitution reactions and can act as strong nucleophiles due to the presence of the negatively charged oxygen atom. This reactivity makes phenoxide an essential component in various organic synthesis reactions.
Phenoxides are widely used in the field of chemistry and pharmaceuticals. They are often employed as reactive intermediates in the synthesis of organic compounds, such as pharmaceutical drugs, dyes, and polymers. Additionally, phenoxides can act as ligands in coordination chemistry and can form coordination complexes with transition metal ions.
Overall, phenoxide refers to the negatively charged anion derived from the removal of a hydrogen atom from a phenol compound. Its reactivity and versatile nature have significant implications in various chemical reactions and synthetic processes.
The word "phenoxide" is derived from two components: "phenol" and "oxide".
- "Phenol" comes from the Greek word "phaino", which means "to show" or "to appear". It refers to a specific organic compound consisting of a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to an aromatic ring. Phenol was first isolated from coal tar in the early 19th century by Friedrich Reichenbach.
- "Oxide" originates from the Latin word "oxidare", meaning "to oxidize". In chemistry, an oxide refers to a chemical compound where oxygen is chemically bonded to another element.
When combined, "phenoxide" refers to the anion (negative ion) produced when phenol loses a proton (H+) from its hydroxyl group. This process results in the formation of the phenoxide ion (C6H5O-), which carries a negative charge.