CORRELATION OF O–H STRETCHING FREQUENCIES WITH pK VALUES FOR SOME PHENOLS
The O–H stretching frequencies, in carbon disulphide, of a number of phenols have been determined. Linear relationships were observed on plotting the stretching frequency against pKA in water. Polar substituted phenols were found to fall along one line, while phenols substituted with aliphatic groups were found to fall along another line of different slope. A change of slope is observed when the stretching frequencies of phenols are plotted against pKA measured in alcohol–water mixtures.Using Goulden's O–H stretching frequencies of carboxylic acids measured in carbon tetrachloride, an attempt has been made to explain the observed deviations from a single straight line in terms of electrostatic effects in the ionizing solvent. The results indicate that for the substances examined, such effects are not responsible for the observed deviations.