An improved process for the production of phenols

The present invention provides an improved method for the production of phenols by oxygenating benzene or benzenoid compounds in presence of water and iron powder or mixture of iron powder and cupric chloride . The oxygenation carried out in presence of stabilizer inorganic salt , at temperature ranging 0 - 50°C, for a period in the range of 1 - 16 hour and then all the metals and water used are removed from the reaction mixture, unreacted benzene or benzenoid compounds are also removed by conventional distillation method to get phenolic compound.