A novel micro-emulsion catalytic system for highly selective hydroxylation of benzene to phenol with hydrogen peroxide

It was first discovered that a novel micro-emulsion system, which was made of water, benzene, acetic acid, sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate as a surfactant and ferric dodecane sulfonate as a catalyst, was very efficient for hydroxylation of benzene to phenol with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an oxidant under mild reaction conditions. By use of this micro-emulsion system, the excellent selectivity for phenol (92.9%), the utilization efficiency of H2O2 (93.1%) and the efficient recycling utilization of the catalyst and un-reacted benzene could be realized at the same time.