Abstract:
The present invention provides a method for converting an aromatic hydrocarbon to a phenol by providing an aromatic hydrocarbon comprising one or more aromatic C—H bonds and one or more activated C—H bonds in a solvent; adding a phthaloyl peroxide to the solvent; converting the phthaloyl peroxide to a di-radical; contacting the di-radical with the one or more aromatic C—H bonds; oxidizing selectively one of the one or more aromatic C—H bonds in preference to the one or more activated C—H bonds; adding a hydroxyl group to the one of the one or more aromatic C—H bonds to form one or more phenols; and purifying the one or more phenols.