FIELD: methods of selective oxidation of aromatic compounds (for example, benzene and its derivatives) into hydroxylated aromatic compounds (for example, respective phenols). SUBSTANCE: proposed method includes mixing of aromatic compound with nitrous oxide at reaction temperature of 225-500 C and acting on mixture of heterogeneous catalyst which contains high-silicon zeolite such as pentasil in acid form. Catalyst is subjected to preliminary activation performed at the following stages: heating zeolite at temperature of 350- 550 C in flow of inert gas or air continued for 4-6 hours; calcination of zeolite at 550-1100 C for 1-3 hours in continuous flow of inert gas or air and cooling of zeolite catalyst to reaction temperature, thus forming heterogeneous catalyst. It is preferable to use composition containing high-silicon zeolite, such as pentasil (for example zeolite, type HZSM- 5) at Si/Al ratio of 20 to 50 containing gallium at silicon-to-gallium ratio of 40 to 100. Impregnated zeolite is calcined in flow of air at 550-800 C. Molar ratio of N2O-to-substrate is 1:7 to 5:1.Used as substrate is benzene or its derivatives, phenol, diphenols, chlorophenols, fluorophenols, difluorophenols, trialkylphenols with C1-C3. alkyl. EFFECT: increased productivity at high selectivity of oxidation reaction. 19 cl, 7 tbl, 21 ex
