Methyltrioxorhenium as Catalyst for Olefin Oxidation

✍ Scribed by Prof. Dr. Wolfgang A. Herrmann; Richard W Fischer; Dr. Dieter W. Marz

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 473 KB
• Volume: 30
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0044-8249
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.199116381

✦ Synopsis

The pronounced Lewis acidity explains the exceptional activity of the title compound as catalyst for olefin epoxidations with hydrogen peroxide. The system MTO/__t__BuOH/H~2~O~2~ transforms olefins selectively and efficiently into epoxides under very mild conditions (−30 to + 60°C, but normally at room temperature). In general, 0.1 to 1 mol% MTO is sufficient to achieve high turnovers. Variation of the alkyl group and addition of cocatalysts (e.g. amines) should influence activity and stereoselectivity.