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

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.