Hydrogen Peroxide → Styrene Oxide

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a mechanically stirred solution of styrene (0.1 mol), dodecane (0.01 mol), urea (2.08 mol), sodium bicarbonate (0.03 mol) and manganese sulphate (0.0001 mol) in 50.0 ml of water at 20° C. is added 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide (0.22 mol) drop-wise over a period of 4 h. After 4.5 h the organic layer of the reaction mixture was separated by a separating funnel. The aqueous layer was extracted with 4×20 mL diethyl ether. The combined organic layer was distilled to yield styrene oxide. The conversion to epoxide is 99% with 94% selectivity.

Provenance & Evidence