“…Therefore, a direct synthesis of phenol from benzene with molecular oxygen as the sole oxidant is desired, and realization of this ideal process has long been a challenge. In previous studies, many oxidants have been used for the direct synthesis of phenol from benzene, including O 2 , H 2 O 2 , N 2 O, H 2 +O 2 , O 2 /CO, and O 2 /NH 3 . In the H 2 +O 2 , O 2 /CO and O 2 /NH 3 systems, O 2 cannot directly transform benzene into phenol, but it is activated by reduction with H 2 (to form H 2 O 2 ), CO (as a sacrificial reagent), and NH 3 (to form N 2 O).…”