Palladium Catalyzed Hydroxylation of Benzene with O2or H2O via the C–H Aromatic Bond Activation. Preparation of Phenol

Abstract Benzene reacts with O2 (15 bar) to give phenol directly in a high yield via the direct phenyl C–H bond activation promoted by some Pd based catalysts/CO(15 bar)/1,10-phenanthroline systems. Addition of both CO (15 bar) 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% Pd–C catalyst.