Homogeneous oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons using heteropolyvanadomolybdate-H<inf>2</inf>O<inf>2</inf> catalytic system

Oxidation of alkyIbenzenes in the liquid phase in the presence of heteropolyvanadomolybdate-hydrogen peroxide system leads to both side chain and ring hydroxylation. Selectivity pattern exhibited by this system resembles that of the vanadiumperoxo complexes, and differs from that of vanadium silicalite catalysed reactions indicating that the environment in which the active centre is present also plays a major role in the selectivity of the product pattern.