ROOM TEMPERATURE EPOXIDATION OF ALKENES WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE CATALYZED BY HETEROPOLYOXOMETALATE

Keggin-type heteropolyoxometalates have been explored as catalysts for the epoxidation of alkenes at room temperature. Alkenes have been catalytically oxidized to the corresponding epoxides using mild and environmentally benign hydrogen peroxide as terminal oxidant. For vanadium(V)-substituted heteropolyoxometalates [Hx-2PVxW12-xO40] (x = 4 for POM 1 and 6 for POM 2), the efficiency of the catalyst towards epoxidation of alkenes is found to be dependent on the amount of vanadium atoms present in the POM catalyst and also on the nature of the reaction medium.