Tungsten(VI) oxide loaded with nanoparticulate platinum (Pt/WO(3)) was demonstrated for the first time to exhibit photocatalytic activity for direct synthesis of phenol from benzene using water and molecular oxygen as reactants under ultraviolet or visible light irradiation; the selectivity for phenol (e.g., 74% at 69% of benzene conversion) on Pt/WO(3) photocatalysts was much higher than those on platinum-loaded titanium(IV) oxide (Pt/TiO(2)) photocatalysts.