An efficient photocatalyst based on H₅PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀/UiO-66-NH₂ for direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol by H₂O₂

Abstract

To realize the direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol by hydrogen peroxide, an efficient photoactive catalyst system was prepared by the recombination of H₅PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀ and UiO-66-NH₂. The heterpolyacid was uniformly distributed on the UiO-66-NH₂, and the combination was stable. The composite could effectively photocatalyze the direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol by H₂O₂ in the mixture solution of acetonitrile and acetic acid. The yield and selectivity were 14.08% and 98.8% under the optimum condition, respectively. The performance of the catalyst still maintained well after 5 catalytic cycles. Hence, the investigated catalyst system might be applied in the field of hydroxylation of benzene to phenol.