tert-Butyl hydroperoxide → 1,2-Epoxy-3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecan-3-ol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A three-necked flask of 2-liter capacity, fitted with a stirrer, reflux-condenser and thermometer, was charged with 463.6 g (1.57 moles) of isophytol, 221.8 g (1.72 moles) of a 70% (by weight) aqueous solution of t-butyl hydroperoxide and 710 mg of vanadium pentoxide and the reaction was conducted at 90° C. for 6 hours. Then, 350.4 g of a 14% (by weight) aqueous solution of sodium sulfite was added and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. The reaction mixture was transferred to a separatory funnel. The upper layer was mixed with the same volume of 1N aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and stirred at room temperature and, then, extracted with n-hexane. The extract was washed with the same volume of water 3 times and the n-hexane was distilled off to give 467.0 g of 1,2-epoxy-3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadecan-3-ol. Yield 96%.

Provenance & Evidence