Direct hydroxylation of benzene to phenol using hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by nickel complexes supported by pyridylalkylamine ligands.

Selective hydroxylation of benzene to phenol has been achieved using H2O2 in the presence of a catalytic amount of the nickel complex [Ni(II)(tepa)](2+) (2) (tepa = tris[2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethyl]amine) at 60 °C. The maximum yield of phenol was 21% based on benzene without the formation of quinone or diphenol. In an endurance test of the catalyst, complex 2 showed a turnover number (TON) of 749, which is the highest value reported to date for molecular catalysts in benzene hydroxylation with H2O2. When toluene was employed as a substrate instead of benzene, cresol was obtained as the major product with 90% selectivity. When H2(18)O2 was utilized as the oxidant, (18)O-labeled phenol was predominantly obtained. The reaction rate for fully deuterated benzene was nearly identical to that of benzene (kinetic isotope effect = 1.0). On the basis of these results, the reaction mechanism is discussed.