Hydrogen Peroxide → Styrene Oxide

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a mechanically stirred solution of styrene (1.0 mol), dodecane (0.1 mol), urea (20.8 mol), sodium bicarbonate (0.3 mol) and manganese sulphate (0.001 mol) in 500 ml of water at 40° C. is added 50% aqueous hydrogen peroxide (2.2 mol) drop-wise over a period of 4 hours. The reaction was allowed to stir for 8 hours. After 8 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 94%.

Provenance & Evidence