Aerobic one-step oxidation of benzene to phenol on copper exchanged HZSM5 zeolites: A mechanistic study

•Dioxygen is activated at the copper centers in the zeolite.•Cu+ oxidation by O2 and Cu2+ reduction by benzene represent a catalytic redox cycle.•Both, Brønsted acid sites and Cu ions are essential, proving bifunctional phenol formation catalysis.•The superoxide ion is the likely intermediate in a r...

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