Hydrogen Peroxide → Styrene Oxide

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a mechanically stirred solution of styrene (1.0 mol), urea (40.8 mol), sodium bicarbonate (0.6 mol) and manganese sulphate (0.001 mol) in 500 ml of water at 0° C. is added 50% aqueous hydrogen peroxide (2.2 mol) drop-wise over a period of 3 hours. The reaction was allowed to stir for 10 hours. After 10 hours a separating funnel separated the organic layer of the reaction mixture. 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 selectivity 92%.

Provenance & Evidence