| abstract |
Catalyst compositions are disclosed which are useful for the hydroxylation and the ammination of aromatic hydrocarbons using molecular oxygen as terminal oxidant. The catalysts comprise a support selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, molecular sieves, zeolites and clays; transition metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium, niobium, copper, palladium, nickel and silver, and combinations thereof; and at least one multidentate chelating, binucleating ligand. The catalysts may further comprise additional metal ions. The process is particularly suited, for example, to the one-step conversion of benzene to phenol and of benzene to aniline. |