Review of some transition metal-based mesoporous catalysts for the direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol (DHBP)

This review provides an outlook on heterogeneous catalysts for direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol (DHBP) with a special focus on various mesoporous transition metal-based catalysts. Among all molecular sieves, mesoporous materials with high surface area and pore volume, tuneable pore sizes, and rich morphology can serve as both efficient catalytic supports and catalysts. The modification of meso‑pores with transition metal species provides the materials with great properties, making the catalysis process highly selective and controllable. This emerging area can provide researchers with great opportunity to introduce novel heterogeneous catalysts from both industrial and environmentally friendly viewpoints.