The determination of methylol groups and dibenzyl ether linkages in phenol alcohols and derived phenolic resins. Part II. Ether linkages

The hardening of phenol alcohols yields as primary products dibenzyl ethers, which hence occur in phenolic resins. Methods for the determination of the dibenzyl ether linkage are described, which depend on its fission by hydrobromic acid. It is shown that methods depending on analysis of the resulting bromomethyl compounds may be unreliable, but that satisfactory results may be obtained if the water eliminated in the fission is estimated by the Karl Fischer reagent. The necessary apparatus and technique are described, and results given for a series of pure dibenzyl ethers and various phenolic resins.