Ncert Exercises & Solutions

In Kolbe's reaction, instead of phenol, phenoxide ion is treated with carbon dioxide. Why?

In phenoxide ion, the ability to give lone pair of electrons to the benzene fing is more in comparison to phenols. Therefore, the reactivity of phenoxide ion towards electrophilic substitution reaction is more in comparison to phenols.

Thus, phenoxide ion being a stronger nucleophile reacts easily with ${co}_{2}$ (weak electrophile) than phenols in Kolbe's reaction.