Why can aryl halides not be prepared by reaction of phenol with HCL in

the presence of ZnCl,?


Due to delocalization of lone pair of -OH in phenol, C—O bond of phenol has gain some partial double bond

character which strengthen the C-OH bond. So, It is difficult to break this C—O bond of phenol while the C—O bond of alcohol is purely single bond and

comparatively weaker bond because here delocalization is not possible. So alkyl halides will be obtained by the tratment of aicohols with HCI in the presence of

ZnCl2 as lewis acid catalyat while aryl halides will not be obtained  by reaction of phenol with HCl in the presence of ZnCl2.

                                      C6H5OHZnCl2HCl No reaction 
RCH2OHZnCl2HCl RCH2Cl+ H2O
  Alcohol                      Alkyl chloride