Hydroxylation of benzene in the system vanadium(V)-hydrogen peroxide-acetic acid

Hydroxylation of benzene in acetic acid at 323 K was studied in the presence of a sodium orthovanadate catalyst. With hydrogen peroxide as aqueous solution, the yield of phenol was 12–14%. With hydrogen peroxide generated from dry sodium peroxide, the yield of phenol could be improved to 21–23%. The apparent decomposition rate constants of hydrogen peroxide in acetic acid are presented.