Direct hydroxylation of arenes with O2 catalyzed by V@CN catalyst

Abstract

A vanadium doped graphitic carbon nitride catalyst has been prepared and used for the direct hydroxylation of arenes with O2. Substituted arenes with electron-withdrawing groups such as CN, NO2, COOH, CF3, and COCH3 were oxygenated to the corresponding phenols in moderate yields. The catalyst also proved applicable for the hydroxylation of aromatic halides (F, Cl, and Br) with O2.