The role of acidity in the catalytic hydroxylation of phenol by hydrogen peroxide

The heterogeneous acid catalysis of the hydroxylation of phenol by hydrogen peroxide was investigated over protonic faujasites containing various amounts of aluminium or partially neutralized. Over strong acids, such as dealuminated protonic faujasites, dihydroxybenzenes result, mainly from an acid catalysed electrophilic aromatic substitution. Over weaker acids, an induction period is observed, the length of which is related to the strength of the acid sites. In that case, the initiation of the reaction occurs by the products of the former acid mechanism, and it is demonstrated using protonated and unprotonated electron transfer agents, that the subsequent autocatalysis involving a redox mechanism, also needs acid catalysis.