Palladium Catalyzed Hydroxylation of Benzene with O2 or H2O via the C-H Aromatic Bond Activation. Preparation of Phenol

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/cl.1987.1865

Benzene reacts with O2 (15bar) to give phenol directly in a high yield via the direct phenyl C-H bond activation promoted by some Pd based catalysts/CO(15bar)/1,10-phenanthroline systems.Addition of both CO (15bar) and phenanthroline or bipyridine is needed for the selective synthesis of phenol.Benzene also reacts with H2O to give phenol by the catalysis of a 5 percent Pd-C catalyst.