Question

convert benzene to phenol?

Answer 1

Raschig process: It is one of the industrial method of prep of phenol. First chlorobenzene is prepared by treatement of benzene with HCl in the presence of heated copper catalyst at 250oC. The resulting chlorobenzene is hydrolysed by steam over silica at 500oC

Benzene + 2HCl + O2 (over Cu at 250oC) = Chloronbenzene + 2H2O

Chlorobenzene + Steam (over silica at 500oC) = Phenol + HCl