Hydrogen Peroxide → Styrene Oxide

Participants

Reaction Steps

To a mechanically stirred solution of styrene (0.01 mol), dodecane (0.001 mol), urea (0.208 mol), sodium bicarbonate (0.003 mol) and cobalt (II) acetate (0.2 mmol) in 10.0 ml of water and 30 ml of dichloromethane at 25° C. is added 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide (0.5 mol) in three equal portions over a period of 4 hours. After 14 hours the reaction mixture was extracted with 4×5 ml diethyl ether. The combined organic layer was dried over anhydrous sodium sulphate. Removal of solvent yielded styrene oxide in 56% yield with selectivity 80%.

Provenance & Evidence