Hydroxylation of Benzene with Hydrogen Peroxide over Highly Efficient Molybdovanadophosphoric Heteropoly Acid Catalysts*

Keggin type molybdovanadophosphoric heteropoly acids, H3+nPMo12-nVnO40 (n = 1–3), were prepared by a novel environmentally benign method, and their catalytic performances were evaluated via hydroxylation of benzene to phenol with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant in a mixed solvent of glacial acetic acid and acetonitrile. Various reaction parameters, such as reaction time, reaction temperature, ratio of benzene to hydrogen peroxide, concentration of aqueous hydrogen peroxide, ratio of glacial acetic acid to acetonitrile in solvent and catalyst concentration, were changed to obtain an optimal reaction conditions. H3+nPMo12-nVnO40 (n = 1–3) are revealed to be highly efficient catalyst for hydroxylation of benzene. In case of H5PMo12-nVnO40, a conversion of benzene of 34.5% with the selectivity of phenol of 100% can be obtained at the optimal reaction conditions.