Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the preparation of phenols, in which an aryldiazonium salt, which is prepared by the diazotisation of a corresponding aromatic, primary amine, is decomposed by heating in a mixture containing hot water, a mineral acid and an organic solvent, wherein the organic solvent contains a ketone of formula (I) R1C(O)R2 in which R1 and R2 independently stand for (C1-C5)-alkyl and R1 and R2 together have at least four carbon atoms, wherein the aromatic primary amine is aniline or a substituted aniline, which contains at least one further substituent which is selected from: alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, halogen, haloalkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, carboxyl, cyan, alkoxyl and ester, and wherein substantially no copper salts are contained in the mixture.