Phenols, sometimes called phenolics, are a class of chemical compounds consisting of a hydroxyl functional group (-OH) attached to an aromatic hydrocarbon group. The simplest of the class is phenol (C6H5OH). Although similar to alcohols, phenols have unique properties including relatively higher acidities due to the aromatic ring tightly coupling with the oxygen and a relatively loose bond between the oxygen and hydrogen. The acidity of the hydroxyl group in phenols is commonly intermediate between aliphatic alcohols and carboxylic acids. Loss of a positive hydrogen from the hydroxyl group of a phenol forms a negative phenolate ion.
Phenols are often germicidal and are sometimes used in formulating disinfectants.
Many phenolic compounds possess estrogenic activity.
One thing that all of the different phenoliccompounds have in common is that their molecular structure includes what chemists call a phenol (feen'-uhl), a ring of six carbon atoms with at least one -OH group attached.
Although the individual compounds have widely varying physiological effects, they are related in various ways by similarities in their chemical structures and biosynthetic origins (see intermediate and advanced pages for structures and relationships).
As usual, synergistic effects among phenoliccompounds and other phytochemicals may be involved in the increased antioxidant activity of the blood.
Phenoliccompounds are essential for the growth and reproduction of plants, and are produced as a response for defending injured plants against pathogens.
Phenols, sometimes called phenolics, are a class of chemical compounds consisting of a hydroxyl functional group (-OH) attached to an aromatic hydrocarbon group.
Phenoliccompounds were identified as 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, 4-hydroxycinnamoyl-quinic acid, ferulic acid, and five chlorogenic acid isomers.
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