Unexpected Pd-catalyzed hydrogenation of phenol to 2-cyclohexene-1-one: enhanced activity and selectivity assisted by molecular oxygen

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Addition of O(2) enables the liquid-phase hydrogenation of phenol using H(2) at low temperatures under atmospheric pressure with an unexpected selectivity towards 2-cyclohexene-1-one rather than cyclohexanone. As a catalyst, as-synthesized Pd/MCM-41 including the residual templates within the mesoporous channels exhibits a prominent positive effect on the catalytic performance.