Nencki’s reaction with cresols

Abstract

The condensation of cresols with acetic, propionic and butyric acids was tried under conditions of Nencki’s reaction employing anhydrous zinc chloride as the condensing agent. Only o-cresol gave rise to both the ortho- and para-substituted derivatives, while the m- and the p-cresols produced only the ortho-substituted products. The yields varied with the duration of heating.