Catalytic hydroxylation of benzene over transition-metal substituted hexagonal mesoporous silicas

Ti-, V-, Cr-, Mo-, and Mn-substituted hexagonal mesoporous silicas prepared at ambient temperature by electrostatic (S+ X–I+) and neutral (S0 I0) surfactant templating pathways are catalytically active for the peroxide hydroxylation of benzene to phenol in the absence of a solvent.