Hydroxylation of benzene to phenol under air and carbon monoxide catalyzed by molybdovanadophosphates

Direct conversion of benzene to phenol was achieved by allowing it to react with a mixed gas of air and CO in the presence of HPMoV and a very small amount of 5%Pd/C in aqueous acetic acid at 150 °C for 2 h. The TON of HPMoV for the formation of phenol goes up to over 1300. The active species of the present reaction is thought to be V4+ generated from HPMoV catalyst by the reduction with CO. The role of the Pd species seems to promote the generation of V4+ from HPMoV. This method is expected to provide a direct route to phenol from benzene.

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