Photocatalytic hydroxylation of benzene to phenol over titanium oxide entrapped into hydrophobically modified siliceous foam

▶ Titania entrapped into hydrophobically modified mesocellular siliceous foam was synthesized. ▶ Selective photocatalytic conversion of benzene to phenol was achieved. ▶ By modifying the hydrophobicity of catalyst the selectivity and phenol yield markedly increased. ▶ The catalyst serves as an efficient photocatalyst for selective photocatalytic oxidation.