The present invention relates to a visible-light-mediated one-
step method for preparing
phenol and
cyclohexanone from cyclohexylbenzene (CHB). The method specifically comprises: under the
irradiation of visible light, and with a
hydrogen bromide solution as a catalyst and
oxygen as an
oxidizing agent, directly oxidizing cyclohexylbenzene in an
organic solvent to break a carbon-carbon bond, so as to generate
phenol and
cyclohexanone. The method avoids such a process in a cyclohexylbenzene method in the prior art that cyclohexylbenzene needs to be first oxidized to obtain cyclohexylbenzene-1-hydroperoxide (1-CHBHP), then the mixture of the oxidation reaction products is treated, and then a cyclohexylbenzene
peroxide is decomposed in an acidic condition to obtain
phenol and
cyclohexanone, and also avoids potential risks caused by the accumulation of peroxides. In addition, the method further has a great number of advantages of the operation being simple, reagents being easily available,
reaction conditions being mild, easy control being achievable, the reaction being able to be scaled-up, a good selectivity being obtained, etc.