Insight into contributions to phenol selectivity in the solution oxidation of benzene to phenol with H2O2

A high selectivity to mono-oxidation of benzene to phenol is a critical parameter for the evaluation and utilization of catalysts for the one-step oxidation process to synthesize phenol The results presented herein indicate that the uncatalyzed oxidation of phenol with H2O2 in solution is a key contributor to phenol oxidation (and, hence, phenol selectivity) in liquid phase oxidations of benzene with H2O2. Additives (ex. sulfolane, acetonitrile, certain inorganic salts) are capable of inhibiting the uncatalyzed phenol oxidation, leading to their potential utility in improving phenol selectivities for benzene oxidation with H2O2. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.