Method of preparing brominated hydroxy aromatic compounds

A method for the preparation of para-bromophenol, said method comprising:

• (A) electrolyzing in an electrochemical cell a mixture comprising phenol, hydrobromic acid, and acetonitrile, said phenol and hydrobromic acid being present in amounts corresponding to a molar ratio of phenol to hydrogen bromide in a range between about 0.6 to 1 and about 1.0 to 1, said electrochemical cell being operated at a current density in a range between about 20 and about 1000 milliamperes per square centimeter;
• and
• (B) recovering a product para-bromophenol.

A method for the preparation of 4-bromo-2-methylphenol, said method comprising:

• (A) electrolyzing in an electrochemical cell a mixture comprising ortho-cresol, hydrobromic acid, and acetonitrile, said ortho-cresol and hydrobromic acid being present in amounts corresponding to a molar ratio of ortho-cresol to hydrogen bromide in a range between about 0.6 to 1 and about 1.0 to 1, said electrochemical cell being operated at a current density in a range between about 20 and about 1000 milliamperes per square centimeter;
• and
• (B) recovering a product 4-bromo-2-methylphenol.