The Hydroxylation of Aromatics with Oxygen by Vanadium Catalysts Supported on N-doped Carbon Materials

Vanadium catalysts supported on N-doped carbon materials (CN) were prepared and the catalyst VOSiW showed high activity for the hydroxylation of various aromatics with O₂. Aromatics with electron-withdrawing groups such as CN, NO₂, COOH, CF₃, COCH₃ and aromatic halides (F, Cl and Br) were oxygenated to the corresponding phenols in considerable yields. The CN materials were not only indispensable for the reusability of the vanadium catalyst VOSiW, but also favorable to the high catalytic activity. The VOSiW catalyst is ready for the hydroxylation of aromatics with O₂ as both V⁴⁺ and V⁵⁺ species are coexisted in the VOSiW catalyst.