Direct synthesis of phenol from benzene catalyzed by multi-V-POMs complex

•A POM-based catalyst with multi-isolated vanadium was synthesized.•V atoms were located in both of the cation and anion parts of the catalyst.•Catalytic performance was higher than any parts of the catalyst used alone.•The increased ordered active sites enhanced the activities of the catalyst.•The reused catalyst structure is maintained and its catalytic activity is stable.

A novel catalyst, [Mo2V2O9(bpy)6][PMo11VO40], was synthesized by the self-assembling of [PMo11VO40]4− and [Mo2V2O9(bpy)6]4+ unit and characterized by elemental analyses, TG, IR, X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray single crystal diffraction. [Mo2V2O9(bpy)6][PMo11VO40] with multi-isolated active sites showed good catalytic activities for hydroxylation of benzene to phenol. A high yield of phenol (25.5%) with selectivity to phenol of 90.7% was obtained using H2O2 as oxidant. The catalyst can be recycled for 5 times while its structure was unchanged and its catalytic activity was maintained.

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