AbstractThe intermolecular condensation reactions of 2,4,6‐trimethylolphenol (TMP) have been studied. The rate of disappearance of TMP from aqueous solutions at 40°C was measured over a range of pH 2–11. Concentrations of TMP were determined by HPLC. Major products, separated on the chromatograph and identified by PMR, were the o,p‐ and p,p‐dimers and a trimer. Reaction kinetics were second order in TMP concentration at low pH. At high pH kinetics were first order in total TMP concentration, contrary to the findings of earlier investigators. The reaction rate varied with pH in a complex manner. The variation is explained by separate acid‐catalyzed and base‐catalyzed mechanisms. A kinetic model is proposed in which the rate constants are independent of pH.