Preparation of phenol by direct hydroxylation of benzene

摘要

Phenol is prepared by directly hydroxylating benzene with nitrous oxide, preferably in vapor phase, on a substrate of acidified zeolite particulates, advantageously ZSM-5 zeolite particulates, and such acidified zeolite particulates having a molar ratio SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O. sub.3 of greater than about 90, preferably up to 500.