Recent Advances in Aromatic Hydroxylation to Phenol and Hydroquinone Using H2O2

Abstract

Direct hydroxylation of aromatics and phenol processes using green oxidants plays an important role in the petrochemical industry. High selectivity towards hydroquinone is usually hard to achieve due to catechol formation and catalyst deactivation. Herein, we showed the recent studies devoted to selective phenol hydroxylation via oxidation using H2O2. This review summarizes progress that has been achieved in this area. Briefly, aromatic hydroxylation on heterogeneous catalysts, phenol hydroxylation on Ti-containing and supported catalysts, photocatalytic hydroxylation, and new approaches toward phenol hydroxylation have been reviewed.