Fe-g-C3N4-Catalyzed Oxidation of Benzene to Phenol Using Hydrogen Peroxide and Visible Light

A bioinspired iron-based catalyst with semiconductor photocatalytic functions in combination with a high surface area holds promise for synthetic chemistry via combining photocatalysis with organosynthesis. Here exemplified for phenol synthesis, Fe-g-C3N4/SBA-15 is able to oxidize benzene to phenol with H2O2 even without the aid of strong acids or alkaline promoters. By taking advantage of both catalysis and photocatalyisis functions of g-C3N4 nanoparticles, the yield of the phenol. can be markedly promoted.