Formation of 2,4-Dichlorophenol by free chlorine mediated oxidation of Triclosan I cannot find much guidance in the literature. This is the reaction between free chlorine in water and triclosan. 
I understand ether cleavage and electrophilic aromatic substitution (maybe) involved. Any ideas as to what the mechanism of this reaction might be?
I'm not sure if this qualifies as an answer since it's more of a guess. Catechols (1,2-dihydroxybenzene derivatives) can be oxidized to ortho-quinones. Applying that transformation here (chlorine in water is certainly oxidizing conditions) gives the oxonium of the ortho-quinone, which can be hydrolyzed to 2,4-DCP.