Palladium Catalyzed Direct Oxidation of Benzene with Molecular Oxygen to Phenol

Abstract

Direct phenol synthesis from benzene is currently one of the most important problems in modern chemistry. We have reported new phenol synthesis from benzene and O₂ via direct activation of a C–H aromatic bond by the Pd(OAc)₂/phenanthroline catalyst system. The evidence for direct oxidation of benzene by O₂ was obtained using ¹⁸O and ²H isotopes. The mechanism was proposed on the basis of these results and the reactions of Ph–Pd σ complex intermediates.