The use of phenols such as tertbutylcatechol as freeradical

The use of phenols such as tert-butylcatechol as free-radical scavengers is

based on the fact that phenolic hydrogens are readily abstracted by radicals,

producing relatively stable phenoxyl radicals that interrupt chain

processes of oxidation and polymerization. Alcohols such as cyclohexanol,

on the other hand, do not function as radical scavengers. Explain why the

two types of molecules differ in their abilities to donate a hydrogen atom to

a radical, R

Solution

As mentioned phenoxy radical are stable than cyclohexanol radical, In phenoxy radical the stability arises due to resonance or mesomeric effect . Such stabilisation not observed on cyclohexanol. Hence Phenol is better in donating hydrogen atom than cyclohexanol.