The mechanism of the Bamberger rearrangement proceeds from the monoprotonation of N-phenylhydroxylamine 1. N-protonation 2 is favored, but unproductive. O-protonation 3 can form the nitrenium ion4, which can react with nucleophiles (H2O) to form the desired 4-aminophenol 5.[5][6]
↑Sone, Takaaki; Hamamoto, Kazuhiro; Seiji, Yoshiyuki; Shinkai, Seiji; Manabe, Osamu (1981). "Kinetics and mechanisms of the Bamberger rearrangement. Part 4. Rearrangement of sterically hindered phenylhydroxylamines to 4-aminophenols in aqueous sulphuric acid solution". J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. II: 1596–1598. doi:10.1039/P29810000298.CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
↑George Kohnstam, W. Andrew Petch and D. Lyn H. Williams (1984). "Kinetic substituent and isotope effects in the acid-catalysed rearrangement of N-phenylhydroxylamines. Are nitrenium lons involved?". J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. II: 423–427. doi:10.1039/P29840000423.